The Life of Thomas Wolsey, Cardinal Archbishop of York
Kelmscott Press. Cavendish, George
Hammersmith. Kelmscott Press. 1893
An excellent copy of the Kelmscott edition of the first major biography in English, a source for Shakespeare.
From the edition limited to 256 copies, with this one of 250 on paper.
The courtier and biographer George Cavendish (1497 - c.1562) entered Wolsey's service as gentleman-usher in c.1522 and remained an intimate, faithful and favoured servant until Wolsey's death in 1530. Cavendish retired from court life and wrote his biography of the Cardinal Archbishop - it is assumed he transcribed conversations and recorded details at the time they occurred - in the 1550s. His biography circulated initially in manuscript, a version appeared in print in the 1640s but it was not until the 19th century that a satisfactory edition appeared. This Kelmscott edition returned to the original manuscript for its own text, transcribed by Ellis. Analysis of Shakespeare's 'Henry VIII' reveals that Shakespeare made use of a manuscript version of Cavendish's text.
'Transcribed after the autograph manuscript of the author, now in the British Museum, by F. S. Ellis, and finished the 25th day of December, in the year 1892, in the Parish of Cockington in the County of Devon. And printed by me William Morris, at the Kelmscott Press, Upper Mall, Hammersmith in the County of Middlesex, and finished on the 30th day of March, 1893.' (From the colophon).
[Peterson A14].
From the edition limited to 256 copies, with this one of 250 on paper.
The courtier and biographer George Cavendish (1497 - c.1562) entered Wolsey's service as gentleman-usher in c.1522 and remained an intimate, faithful and favoured servant until Wolsey's death in 1530. Cavendish retired from court life and wrote his biography of the Cardinal Archbishop - it is assumed he transcribed conversations and recorded details at the time they occurred - in the 1550s. His biography circulated initially in manuscript, a version appeared in print in the 1640s but it was not until the 19th century that a satisfactory edition appeared. This Kelmscott edition returned to the original manuscript for its own text, transcribed by Ellis. Analysis of Shakespeare's 'Henry VIII' reveals that Shakespeare made use of a manuscript version of Cavendish's text.
'Transcribed after the autograph manuscript of the author, now in the British Museum, by F. S. Ellis, and finished the 25th day of December, in the year 1892, in the Parish of Cockington in the County of Devon. And printed by me William Morris, at the Kelmscott Press, Upper Mall, Hammersmith in the County of Middlesex, and finished on the 30th day of March, 1893.' (From the colophon).
[Peterson A14].
pp. (i), iv, 287. 8vo. (210 x 148 mm). Leaf with 'Foreword'' verso, leaf with title recto, 'Prologue' verso and to following leaf, first leaf of text with elaborate decorative border and decorative ten-line initial, printed text with decorative initials and text ornaments throughout, final leaf with colophon and Kelmscott device recto. Original publisher's full limp vellum with Yapp edges, six silk ties, gilt title to spine.
#48644
