The Love Lyrics & Songs of Proteus by William Scawen Blunt
Kelmscott Press. Blunt, Wilfrid Scawen
Hammersmith. Kelmscott Press. 1892
A very good copy of the only Kelmscott book to feature initials printed in red.
From the edition limited to 300 copies.
Blunt's verse collection was published under the pseudonym 'Proteus' and drew on his colourful personal life. The initials were printed in red throughout at Blunt's request although Morris is known to have preferred his own style with initials in black.
The ownership signature appears to be that of Kenneth Francis Gibbs (1856 - 1935), Old Wykehamist and son of Baron Aldenham, Vicar of Aldenham, later Archdeacon of St. Albans and Chaplain to George V. A note to the same leaf appears to suggest that Gibbs purchased the book at the time of publication ('£2.2.0'). A description from a Quaritch catalogue is pasted to the facing blank - it is annotated 'Bernard Quaritch / 1903' and offers the book for '£12'. Quaritch's listing also features the erroneous date of 1898 for the book; it was, of course, published in 1892.
[Peterson A3].
From the edition limited to 300 copies.
Blunt's verse collection was published under the pseudonym 'Proteus' and drew on his colourful personal life. The initials were printed in red throughout at Blunt's request although Morris is known to have preferred his own style with initials in black.
The ownership signature appears to be that of Kenneth Francis Gibbs (1856 - 1935), Old Wykehamist and son of Baron Aldenham, Vicar of Aldenham, later Archdeacon of St. Albans and Chaplain to George V. A note to the same leaf appears to suggest that Gibbs purchased the book at the time of publication ('£2.2.0'). A description from a Quaritch catalogue is pasted to the facing blank - it is annotated 'Bernard Quaritch / 1903' and offers the book for '£12'. Quaritch's listing also features the erroneous date of 1898 for the book; it was, of course, published in 1892.
[Peterson A3].
pp. (i), vii, (i), 251. 8vo. (208 x 150 mm). Printed title in red and black, four leaves with contents, opening leaf of text with large decorative border and nine-line initial in red, large decorative border and ten-line decorative initial to leaf h5 the opening leaf of 'Love Sonnets', decorative initials, shoulder notes and stanza numbers in red throughout, final leaf with colophon and Kelmscott device recto. Original publisher's stiff vellum with Yapp edges, four silk ties, title gilt to spine.
#48645
