The Golden Ass of Apuleius (Limited Fine Press Edition)

APULEIUS, Lucius (trans. William Adlington; ed. George Sampson; illus. W. L. Bruckman). The Golden Ass. London: Printed at the Chiswick Press for George Bell and Sons, 1904. Folio (35 x 22cm). Finely rebound in half crushed Morocco and marbled paper boards. [x], 226, [ii]pp. Woodcut architectural title page and portrait frontispiece by the Dutch artist Willem Leendert Bruckman (1866–1928). Printed throughout in red and black on handmade laid paper bearing the Chiswick Press watermark, with woodcut initial letters and rubricated headings throughout. Part of "The Chiswick Library of Noble Authors." Limited edition. Limited to 200 numbered copies for sale in England (plus 20 presentation copies not for sale), this being number 63. William Adlington's translation of Apuleius's Metamorphoses, published in 1566 under the title The XI Bookes of the Golden Asse, is one of the celebrated achievements of Elizabethan translation. This edition, produced at the Chiswick Press was edited by George Sampson and illustrated with a woodcut architectural title page and frontispiece by the Dutch artist Willem Bruckman, printed in the two-colour red and black scheme that runs throughout the volume. Near fine. Some mild markings to cover and some rubbing to leather at edges. Contents fine, bright and wonderfully preserved.