Gothic Book Plates, Signed (1 results)

First edition. First edition. Large Quarto. Original thick card wrappers and braided ties at spine, with printed title on cover. A rare 1912 book taken from the Kelmscott edition of the Nature of Gothic, with seven original etched bookplates by artist Bertha Gorst, the frontispiece signed by Gorst. Bertha Aiken Gorst was a British book plate designer, painter, and etcher of landscapes and architectural scene The book is extremely rare book in commerce; limited to 250 but far fewer copies were issued. Beautifully executed and designed by the publisher Fowler, an agent for Charles Ricketts and also the Eragny Press. With the original full-size textured onion skin overlays to protect the etchings, each of which are tipped onto the page. Laid in is the original 12mo four-page prospectus with photo of the Gorst etching and a description, denoting (in part): "Being certain passages from 'The Nature of Gothic,' by John Ruskin, & certain Book-plates by Bertha Gorst, H.R.E., (Mrs. John G. Aikin). Printed throughout upon Italian hand-made paper; contains SEVEN ORIGINAL COPPER-PLATE IMPRESSIONS, one of them being a "signed proof", of book-plates by Bertha Gorst. " etc. Near fine. Most scarce.