A Note by William Morris on His Aims in Founding the Kelmscott Press: Together with a Short Description of the Press by S.C. Cockerell, & an Annotated List of the Books Printed Thereat

Morris, William (1834-1896); Cockerell, S.C

Published by Kelmscott Press, London/Hammersmith, 1898

About this Item

Printed by William Morris, and sold by the Trustees of the late William Morris at the Kelmscott Press. Bound in publisher's original quarter Holland-backed blue paper boards, with white linen spine and black titles to cover. One of 525 [at ten shillings] paper copies (plus 12 [at two guineas] on vellum). Printed on fine, handmade, Batchelor (with the second version of the Primrose watermark) paper. Uncut, deckled edges. Colophon and the smaller, rectangular printer's device designed by Morris (no. 1). [iv], 70 pp., [1, colophon], [1, blank].  Printed in black and red throughout with the Golden type designed by Morris for his press, with 5 pages in the Troy and Chaucer types he designed. Head-title and shoulder-notes in red.  The frontispiece, "Psyche Borne off by Zephyrus," designed by Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones, was engraved by William Morris for a projected edition of THE EARTHLY PARADISE in the 1860s and was "touched up" by Robert Catterson-Smith. Rejected ornaments for LOVE IS ENOUGH. Woodcut borders (4a and 4) to frontispiece and first page of text. One 6-line woodblock initial capital designed by Morris for his press, engraved by William Harcourt Hooper, plus four large, 20-line woodcut initials (designed for the Froissart, but never used). This was the last book printed at the Kelmscott Press. It was finished at No. XIV Upper Mall, Hammersmith, in the County of London, on the fourth day of March, MDCCCXCVIII. [Clark Library, Kelmscott and Doves, pp. 62-63. Peterson A53. Ransom, Private Presses, p. 331, no. 53. Sparling 53. Tomkinson, pp. 121-124, no. 53.]  Lacking errata slip.  Light wear and soiling to boards. Corners slightly bumped. Cloth spine in good condition. Mark to letterpress of title (possibly flaw in paper at time of printing). Condition overall: Very Good.

Seller Inventory # 1216

Bibliographic Details

• Title: A Note by William Morris on His Aims in Founding the Kelmscott Press: Together with a Short Description of the Press by S.C. Cockerell, & an Annotated List of the Books Printed Thereat
• Publisher: Kelmscott Press, London/Hammersmith
• Publication Date: 1898
• Language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones
• Edition: 1st Edition.
• Printing: 1st Printing
• Condition: Very Good
• Weight: 1 pound
• Seller catalogs:
  • Kelmscott Press Editions
  • First Editions
  • Fine Press