The Golden Legend of Master William Caxton
Kelmscott Press. Voragine, Jacobus de
Hammersmith. Kelmscott Press. 1892
A very good copy of the first edition of The Golden Legend.
From the edition limited to 500 copies on Flower paper (no copies printed on vellum), volumes two and three unopened.
Morris' first proposed publication by the Kelmscott Press, 'The Golden Legend of Master William Caxton' was announced in the 'Literary Gossip' column of the Athenaeum as early as September 13th 1890 (this is probably the earliest mention of the press in print). The 'Legenda Aurea', Jacobus de Voragine's 13th-century compilation of Saints' lives, an essential prism for the understanding of the medieval mind in Morris' view, was enormously popular in manuscript and print: ' ... no other book was more usually reprinted in various languages between the years 1470 and 1520 ... ' (Ellis). A copy of Caxton's first edition (printed c.1483 / 1484) was borrowed from Cambridge University and transcribed by Ellis' daughter; corrections to the text were made by Ellis (in consultation with Morris) while Morris designed the mise en page and occupied himself with the printing. Ellis' proposed glossary and bibliography of English editions of the 'Legenda Aurea', which he intended for an introduction, found no favour with Morris, and in the published book the glossary is printed at the end of the third volume in truncated form. In addition Morris did allow Ellis to print a bibliographical notice, the 'Memoranda, Bibliographical & Explanatory, Concerning the Legenda Aurea of Jacobus de Voragine & Some of the Translation of It', also at the end of the third volume.
Also included, loosely inserted, is the slip of paper (70 x 202 mm) with Morris' note to the binder: 'IF this book be bound the edges of the leaves should only be TRIMMED [their capitals], not cut. In no case should the book be pressed, as that would destroy the 'impression' of the type and thus injure the appearance of the printing. Wm. Morris.'
'The Press was created, in part, as an outlet for Morris's antiquarian enthusiasm for England's first printer ... The Golden Legend was the first book planned, and it was only its length and minor technical problems that prevented it from being the first book printed at the Kelmscott Press.' (Peterson, pg. 178).
' ... the most superbly beautiful book that ever, I should think, came from any press.' (Algernon Charles Swinburne in a letter to the editor Ellis).
[Peterson A7].
From the edition limited to 500 copies on Flower paper (no copies printed on vellum), volumes two and three unopened.
Morris' first proposed publication by the Kelmscott Press, 'The Golden Legend of Master William Caxton' was announced in the 'Literary Gossip' column of the Athenaeum as early as September 13th 1890 (this is probably the earliest mention of the press in print). The 'Legenda Aurea', Jacobus de Voragine's 13th-century compilation of Saints' lives, an essential prism for the understanding of the medieval mind in Morris' view, was enormously popular in manuscript and print: ' ... no other book was more usually reprinted in various languages between the years 1470 and 1520 ... ' (Ellis). A copy of Caxton's first edition (printed c.1483 / 1484) was borrowed from Cambridge University and transcribed by Ellis' daughter; corrections to the text were made by Ellis (in consultation with Morris) while Morris designed the mise en page and occupied himself with the printing. Ellis' proposed glossary and bibliography of English editions of the 'Legenda Aurea', which he intended for an introduction, found no favour with Morris, and in the published book the glossary is printed at the end of the third volume in truncated form. In addition Morris did allow Ellis to print a bibliographical notice, the 'Memoranda, Bibliographical & Explanatory, Concerning the Legenda Aurea of Jacobus de Voragine & Some of the Translation of It', also at the end of the third volume.
Also included, loosely inserted, is the slip of paper (70 x 202 mm) with Morris' note to the binder: 'IF this book be bound the edges of the leaves should only be TRIMMED [their capitals], not cut. In no case should the book be pressed, as that would destroy the 'impression' of the type and thus injure the appearance of the printing. Wm. Morris.'
'The Press was created, in part, as an outlet for Morris's antiquarian enthusiasm for England's first printer ... The Golden Legend was the first book planned, and it was only its length and minor technical problems that prevented it from being the first book printed at the Kelmscott Press.' (Peterson, pg. 178).
' ... the most superbly beautiful book that ever, I should think, came from any press.' (Algernon Charles Swinburne in a letter to the editor Ellis).
[Peterson A7].
pp. xii, 464; 465 - 864; 865 - 1286. 3 vols. 4to. (304 x 216 mm). Woodcut title by William Morris and two full-page woodcut plates by Sir Edward Burne-Jones (all in vol. 1), each, together with facing leaves of text with elaborate woodcut borders, several additional woodcut decorative flourishes, numerous ten-line and six-line decorative woodcut initials throughout, colophon with woodcut Kelmscott Press vignette. Printed text in Morris' Golden Type. Original publisher's canvas-backed blue paper boards, printed paper title labels to spines, spines a little darkened, labels and free endpapers with some toning as usual.
#48642
