The Psalms of the Singer David

Folio. Rebound in quarter brown cloth and marbled paper over boards. (71pp). Ornate-bordered frontispiece and entire text bearing same border, with title, running heads, dedication and colophon in orange and initial capitals in blue. Near fine. Handsome copy of this lush text, for which 300 copies were printed. William H. Wilke's striking full-length portrait of David in full regalia and his large intertwined borders lend this volume its distinct illuminated medieval manuscript feel, and its tight Gothic text obliges Nash to note in his dedication that "it will doubtless be said by critics that it is hard to read" and to admit, "I agree: the book has been done with the hope that it will prove to be a typographical picture." He dedicates it to "his friends, and notably for his Jewish friends of San Francisco. the men and women of San Francisco who proudly claim racial connection with the royal singer of Israel. Our city acclaims them for their distinguished patronage of music, arts and letters, no less than for their charitable and philanthropic generosity." In the rear colophon he notes creating it "for the joy of doing" and that it was done "over a period of ten years." Nash has signed the front pastedown large and bold in pencil. "O'DAY 62-63.…