Spenser, Edmund ; Wise, Thomas J [ed]Biblio.com
1917 resultados
1897ref. 69960London: The Folio Society 2011. 4to.Limited Edition. Limited Facsimile Edition. 3 volumes. Full white Nigerian goatskin with elaborate gilt-stamped decoration and lettering to boards and spines based on Walter Crane's original design within a maroon silk covered wooden slipcase; top edges gilt. Very minor spots to the fore-edges; otherwise all in fine condition clean and bright including the heavy slipcase. A beautiful facsimile edition with Walter Crane's incredible black & white illustrations throughout. Numbered 588 of 1000 limited edition copies published by The Folio Society from the originally published George Allen editions printed at The Chiswick Press 1894-7. This is a very heavy set and may require additional postage if being shipped outside of Europe. . Near Fine. Gilt Decorated Leather. Limited Edition. 1897. The Folio Society 2011 hardcover
1930ref. 205189Printed at the Shakespeare Head Press St Aldates Oxford & published for the press by Basil Blackwell 1930. Hardcover. The original contents are in fine condition pages mostly unopened / the attractively simple new binding is in near new condition with just a bit of fading to the edges of the silk moire endpapers. Photographs upon request. Number 250 of a limited edition of 375 copies printed on Batchelor's Shakespeare Head handmade paper. The text of the present edition has been prepared by Professor W.L. Renwick and the decorations have been designed and engraved on wood by Hilda Quick with the initial letters and the letterings for the title-page and headings having been engraved by her from designs by Joscelyne Gaskin. This set has been rebound in full burgundy leather black leather spine labels with gilt titling pale lavender silk moire endpapers and sewn-in ribbon markers. All edges uncut and mostly unopened. Printed at the Shakespeare Head Press St Aldates Oxford & published for the press by Basil Blackwell hardcover
ref. 84097803London 1862 Smith. 3/4 Leather over marbled boards very good 400420p.index 4 color litho illustrations 12 tinted plates 2 vol. set corners & covers bit rubbed one plate in color facsimile else clean as is. FIRST EDITION Valuable relation of the British Consul-general at Borneo also secretary to Sir James Brooke in Labuan temporary Com- missioner of Labuan Charge d'Affaires in Haiti & the Domin- ican Republic Resident Minister in Haiti Minister Residen- tiary in Peru Envoy Extraordinary to Mexico and Minister to Sweden. St. John explored the country around the capital of Borneo and penetrated farther into the interior than any pr- evious traveller. He published a full and accurate journal. Covering the Sea & land Dayaks their social life the Kay- ans of Baram Samarahan river & caves mountain of Kina Balu and its ascent expeditions to explore the interior of the South and South-east of the capital. His Limbang or Malayan journal Sulu archipelago & its islands the Kingdom of Bor- neo proper Sarawak & the Chinese in Borneo. The author was secretary to Rajah Brooke of Sarawak and he was the British consul at Brunei this work was based on his explorations. Casey Wood p.548. Describes travels in Northern Borneo. A most excellent primary resource. Color scans can be sent by e-mail. R A R E ! unknown
ref. FORT916165The Folio Society. Used - Very Good. Limited Edition. 3 Volume set in original case. Facsimile of the 1897 First Edition from George Allen. Edited by Thomas J. Wise. Printed on Corolla Classic Watermarked Layed paper and bound by Lachemaier in full Nigerian goatskin blocked with a gilt stamped design based on Walter Crane's original. Limited Edition 90/1000. Housed in original crushed silk box. The Folio Society unknown
1862ref. FINfeSAI69London: Smith Elder And Co. 1862. 1862. 2 Volumes. 8vo. pp. 1 p.l. vii-xix 1list of illus. 1 leaferrata 400; 1 p.l. v-xviii 1 leafplate list 420. lacking half-titles. 2 folding lithographed maps 4 hand-coloured lithographs of plants & 12 tinted lithographs. contemporary half calf spine & corners worn but solid neat gilt library stamp at foot of spines some foxing to plates & neighbouring leaves. First Edition. St. John who as a young man was fascinated with Borneo and the adventures of Sir James Brooke rajah of Sarawak and took up the study of the Malay language was introduced to Brooke on his visit to England in 1847 and accompanied him as private secretary when Brooke was appointed British commissioner and governor of Labuan. Thenceforth St. John and Brooke were closely associated. St. John was with Brooke during his final operations in 1849 against Malay pirates and he accompanied Brooke to Brunei the Sulu archipelago and to Siam in 1850. Although St. John deemed some of his chief's dealings with the natives high-handed and ill-advised he in a letter to Gladstone defended Brooke against attack in the House of Commons. While the official inquiry into Brooke's conduct which the home government appointed was in progress at Singapore St. John acted temporarily as commissioner for Brooke 1851-5 and visited the north-western coast of Borneo and the north-eastern shore ascending the principal rivers. Appointed in 1856 British consul-general at Brunei St. John explored the country round the capital and penetrated farther into the interior than any previous traveller. He published his full and accurate journals supplemented by other visitors' testimonies in these well-written and beautifully illustrated volumes entitled Life in the Forests of the Far East 1862. DNB Included are chapters on the Sea and Land Dayaks and their social life the Samarahan River and the Caves of Sirih St. John's ascents of the Mountain of Kina Balu explorations in the interior to the south and south-east of the capital expedition up the Limbang River visits to the Sulu Islands Borneo proper Sarawak the Chinese in Borneo the Chinese insurrection and Roman catholic and protestant missions. The plates include tinted lithographs showing scenery and natives and four hand-coloured lithographs of notable flora. cfCasey Wood p. 548 2nd Edn. F. Hardcover. London: Smith, Elder And Co., 1862. Hardcover
1901ref. 165727London: Essex House Press 1901. The epitome of an Essex House Press production First Essex House Press edition number 62 of 150 copies only each printed on vellum and hand-coloured. First published in 1595 Spenser wrote this ode for his bride on their wedding day. It is printed here as the fifth work in the Essex House Press Great Poems Series. The Essex House Press was founded by Charles Robert Ashbee and Laurence Hodson following the closure of William Morris's Kelmscott Press in 1897 and "came from the heart of the arts and crafts movement" Franklin p. 64. Ashbee bought the Kelmscott Press's Albion printing presses after William Morris's death and employed one of the Kelmscott compositors Thomas Binning. In 1902 "a bindery was established in the Guild under the direction of Annie Power who had been a student of Douglas Cockerell" Crawford p. 400. For this work Florence Kingsford Cockerell 1871-1949 one of the leading book illuminators of the English arts and crafts movement provided the illuminated letters. Kingsford Cockerell studied calligraphy under Edward Johnston and predominantly worked for the Ashendene Press. Octavo. Printed in Caslon type. Hand-coloured frontispiece woodcut by Reginald Savage illuminated letters in gilt red blue and green by Florence Kingsford Cockerell with tissue guards. Original vellum spine lettered in gilt rose and "Soul is Form" blind-stamped to front cover. Pastedowns lifting slightly from boards: a near-fine copy. Ashbee A Bibliography of The Essex House Press p. 15; Franklin p. 243; Ransom Essex House Press 23. Alan Crawford C.R. Ashbee: Architect Designer & Romantic Socialist 2005; John Mansfield Thomson Farewell Colonialism: The New Zealand International Exhibition Christchurch 1906-07 1998. hardcover
ref. 88434London The Folio Society 2011 Limited Numbered Edition 114/1000. The gorgeous facsimiles are bound in 3 volumes : Each volume is bound in stunning white Nigerian goat skin blocked with a gilt design on cover and spine that is seductively sensuous to the touch. The volumes are housed on a sliding tray in a maroon toile vendome silk covered wooden case 31.8x23.6x20.6cm. that is lined with maroon cloth. All three volumes are identically bound and gilt embossed except for the book number on the spine. Presented in a wooden slipcase covered in Tsarina Crush with a sliding tray in the base for ease of use In very good near fine condition. Near fine slipcase. Pages all clean and tight. An excellent limited edition copy. Books I & II 528 pages books III & IV 516 pages books V & VI 507 pages. It is printed on thick watermarked laid paper with gilt top page edges and white ribbon markers. Profusely illustrated with 88 large illustrations and 135 illustrative head and tailpieces by Walter Crane. 1712 pages in total he sixteenth century was the golden age of English poetry. Edmund Spenser burned to create an English equivalent to Virgil’s Aeneid. Instead of lauding the Caesars he would glorify Elizabeth the Virgin Queen. Where Virgil connected Rome to the heroic past of Troy Spenser would forge a link between Tudor England and the mythological age of King Arthur. The result was The Faerie Queene a rich allegory which elevated Protestant virtues through the medium of a romantic chivalric epic. Today the power of Spenser’s story and the beauty of his verse still live in ‘famous memory’. London, The Folio Society, 2011 Limited Numbered Edition 114/1000. hardcover
1751ref. 001SPENSER Edmund The Faerie Queene. With an exact Collation of the Two Original Editions Published by Himself Spenser at London in Quarto; the Former containing the first Three Books printed in 1590 and the Latter the Six Books in 1596. To which are now added A new Life of the Author and also a Glossary. Adorn'd with thirty-two Copper-Plates from the Original Drawings of the late W. KENT Esq. London: Printed for J. Brindely. . . 1751. 3 volumes. 4to pp. ii lxiii lxiv blank xxxvii xxxviii blank xxxix - xl Contents xli errata xlii blank 453 454 blank; ii 440 20 full-page engraved plates in volume 1 7 full-page engraved plates in volume 2 5 full-page engraved plates in volume 3 dully rebound probably 19th century in quarter calf publisher's cloth; tear in pp. 125-126 in volume 3 but otherwise a good clean set with good impressions of the plates. The life is by Thomas Birch prolific writer member of the Society of Antiquaries and Fellow of the Royal Society. The Faerie Queene is an epic poem one of the longest in the English language. It is primarily an allegorical poem and was originally presented by Spenser to Queen Elizabeth I in 1589 in an attempt to gain Royal patronage. It has become a hugely influential work in which Spenser invented the verse form known as the Spenserian stanza. Free Tracked Post for All UK Customers Overseas Customers please contact for postage prices J. Brindely. . . hardcover
1897ref. 71892London: George Allen 1897. Limited edition. 3/4 Leather. Very Good. 6 volume set. 28.5 x 22 cm. Quarto. lxxxvii 1546 pp Bound into 3/4 brown leather over green marble boards and endpapers. 5 raised bands to spines. Illustrated with oveer 200 woodcut illustrations as well as head and tail pieces and decorated initials by Walter Crane. Limited to 1000 copies printed on handmade paper. TEG. Sun toning to spines. A bit of rubbing to edges. Previous owner's bookplate Deatherage on front fixed endpaper of each volume. Some scuffing to the spines. Crane's best work. George Allen unknown
1897ref. 4803London George Allen 1897 Très bel exemplaire de la première édition. Six volumes. Édité par Thomas J. Wise et avec les fabuleuses illustrations art nouveau de Walter Crane. Un des 1000 exemplaires non numérotés sur papier fait main imprimés par Charles Whittingham & Co. à la presse de Chiswick. Les couvertures souples originales des parties ont été conservées et reliées à l'arrière. Récemment réparé / ré-épinglé en cuir rouge avec les planches d'origine en cuir rouge. Certaines planches présentent quelques taches, mais dans l'ensemble elles sont en très bon état. A l'intérieur, les livres sont sains, mais les bords sont légèrement assombris. Un bon exemplaire. lxxxvii, 1-248 [i], [couvertures], viii, 251-528, [couvertures], viii, 529-806, [couvertures], viii, 807-1044, [couvertures], viii, 1045-1276, [couvertures], viii, 1277-1546, [8], [couvertures].
1897ref. 4803London: George Allen 1897. Six volumes. Limited first book-form edition. Edited by Thomas J. Wise and with the fabulous arts and crafts illustrations of Walter Crane. One of 1000 unnumbered copies on handmade paper printed by Charles Whittingham & Co. at the Chiswick Press. The original soft covers of the parts have been retained and bound in to the rear. Recently repaired / re-spined in red leather with the original red leather boards. Some of the boards have some darkening / staining but overall in very attractive condition. Internally the books are sound but slightly darkened to the edges. A decent copy. lxxxvii 1-248 i covers. viii 251-528 covers. viii 529-806 covers. viii 807-1044 covers. viii 1045-1276 covers. viii 1277-1546 8 covers. . Très bel exemplaire de la première édition. Six volumes. Édité par Thomas J. Wise et avec les fabuleuses illustrations art nouveau de Walter Crane. Un des 1000 exemplaires non numérotés sur papier fait main imprimés par Charles Whittingham & Co. à la presse de Chiswick. Les couvertures souples originales des parties ont été conservées et reliées à l'arrière. Récemment réparé / ré-épinglé en cuir rouge avec les planches d'origine en cuir rouge. Certaines planches présentent quelques taches mais dans l'ensemble elles sont en très bon état. A l'intérieur les livres sont sains mais les bords sont légèrement assombris. Un bon exemplaire. lxxxvii 1-248 i couvertures viii 251-528 couvertures viii 529-806 couvertures viii 807-1044 couvertures viii 1045-1276 couvertures viii 1277-1546 8 couvertures. George Allen paperback
1897ref. 206378London: George Allen 1897. Rear cover of the final volume detached hinges tender; some surface scratches; spines faded a shade. A very handsome set. Six volumes. 4tos; lxxxvii 1-248 18 viii 251-527 13 viii 529-805 13 viii 807-1044 12 viii 1045-1274 16 viii 1277-1546 24; full polished tree calf gilt with exquisitely tooled spines with red and tan leather labels marbled endpapers; t.e.g. One of 1000 unnumbered copies on handmade paper printed by Charles Whittingham & Co. at the Chiswick Press this copy has been beautifully bound in the Riviere style by H.S. Nichols. One of the high-water marks of Art & Crafts book design this was Walter Crane's last major commission and one of his most fully executed and highly prized publications featuring 88 full-page illustrations along with head and tailpieces devices and initials throughout. The set was issued in parts between 1894 and 1897 and the original title pages and publisher's devices are bound in at the rear of each volume of this set. n.b. this is a heavy multi-volume set and will require additional shipping charges. George Allen unknown
ref. 06429London: Published by George Allen 1897. The Most Important Work Illustrated by Walter Crane One of 1000 Copies Printed on Handmade Paper CRANE Walter illustrator. SPENSER Edmund. Spenser's Faerie Queene. A Poem in Six Books with the Fragment Mutabilitie. Edited by Thomas J. Wise. Pictured by Walter Crane. London: Published by George Allen 1897. First edition illustrated by Walter Crane. One of 1000 copies printed on handmade paper out of a total edition of 1028 copies. Originally issued in nineteen parts with wrappers also designed by Crane. Six quarto volumes 10 11/16 x 8 5/8 inches; 272 x 220 mm. Double-page general title in Volume I seven title-pages Volume I dated 1894 Volumes II-III dated 1895 and Volumes IV-XI dated 1896 and eighty-eight full-page woodcut illustrations including one double-page. With 132 head- and tail-pieces numerous decorative initials and printer's and publisher's colophons. Printed by the Chiswick Press. Bound by Zaehnsdorf stamp-signed in gilt on the front turn-in in full dark green crushed morocco. Covers decoratively tooled in gilt to match the original cover design spines decoratively tooled and lettered in gilt in compartments gilt board edges and turn-ins green watered silk doublures and liners top edge gilt others uncut. Zaehnsdorf exhibition stamp in gilt on rear doublure. Original pink printed wrappers bound in. Spines uniformly faded otherwise a fine set. "The most important work in the whole long list of books illustrated by Walter Crane. If Crane's claim to greatness were based entirely on this work he would still retain his position in the front rank of nineteenth-century artists. The wealth of ideas and forms real and fantastic which are embodied in the actual illustrations and even more in the marvellous decorative border designs is almost incredible! Besides the numberless presentments of the human figure in all its manly vigour and womanly grace the whole range of nature's forms of animal and plant life of fabulous mythological inventions of allegorical personifications are worked into decorative designs of exquisite beauty. It would be petty nay foolish to try to find fault with certain very obvious shortcomings as regards anatomical drawing in a work which does not only stand unique as pure decoration but speaks of an amount of knowledge and a wealth of imagination that command unrestricted admiration and respect" Konody p. 71. Ashley V p. 196. Engen Crane p. 102. Massé pp. 47-48. London: Published by George Allen, 1897 unknown
ref. 06429London: Published by George Allen 1897. The Most Important Work Illustrated by Walter Crane One of 1000 Copies Printed on Handmade Paper CRANE Walter illustrator. SPENSER Edmund. Spenser's Faerie Queene. A Poem in Six Books with the Fragment Mutabilitie. Edited by Thomas J. Wise. Pictured by Walter Crane. London: Published by George Allen 1897. First edition illustrated by Walter Crane. One of 1000 copies printed on handmade paper out of a total edition of 1028 copies. Originally issued in nineteen parts with wrappers also designed by Crane. Six quarto volumes 10 11/16 x 8 5/8 inches; 272 x 220 mm. Double-page general title in Volume I seven title-pages Volume I dated 1894 Volumes II-III dated 1895 and Volumes IV-XI dated 1896 and eighty-eight full-page woodcut illustrations including one double-page. With 132 head- and tail-pieces numerous decorative initials and printer's and publisher's colophons. Printed by the Chiswick Press. Bound by Zaehnsdorf stamp-signed in gilt on the front turn-in in full dark green crushed morocco. Covers decoratively tooled in gilt to match the original cover design spines decoratively tooled and lettered in gilt in compartments gilt board edges and turn-ins green watered silk doublures and liners top edge gilt others uncut. Zaehnsdorf exhibition stamp in gilt on rear doublure. Original pink printed wrappers bound in. Spines uniformly faded otherwise a fine set. "The most important work in the whole long list of books illustrated by Walter Crane. If Crane's claim to greatness were based entirely on this work he would still retain his position in the front rank of nineteenth-century artists. The wealth of ideas and forms real and fantastic which are embodied in the actual illustrations and even more in the marvellous decorative border designs is almost incredible! Besides the numberless presentments of the human figure in all its manly vigour and womanly grace the whole range of nature's forms of animal and plant life of fabulous mythological inventions of allegorical personifications are worked into decorative designs of exquisite beauty. It would be petty nay foolish to try to find fault with certain very obvious shortcomings as regards anatomical drawing in a work which does not only stand unique as pure decoration but speaks of an amount of knowledge and a wealth of imagination that command unrestricted admiration and respect" Konody p. 71. Ashley V p. 196. Engen Crane p. 102. Massé pp. 47-48. London: Published by George Allen, 1897 unknown books
1862ref. 47595London: Smith Elder and Co 1862. First Edition. Full leather. Fine. 400p 420p octavo. With errata and both half titles 12 tinted lithographs 4 color lithographs and 3 folding maps. Beautifully bound in full green morocco top edge gilt spines sunned to brown bound by P. Fister Co. Inscribed by the author in volume 1 on the half title page to Mrs Menzies from her sincere friend the Author" Rare signed. Smith Elder and Co hardcover
1897ref. 1307501897. First Edition. CRANE Walter illustrator SPENSER Edmund. Spenser's Faerie Queene. London: George Allen Chiswick Press 1897. Six volumes. Quarto original white buckram gilt and red cover illustrations top edges gilt uncut. $4000.Limited first book-form edition of Walter Crane's ""most ambitious project of book illustration"" Lacy 103 one of 1000 large-paper copies with 88 splendid full-page pen-and-ink line-cuts two double-page 135 illustrative head- and tailpieces by Crane and six facsimile title pages from earlier editions.""The noblest allegorical poem in our languageÑindeed the noblest allegorical poem in the world"" James Montgomery. Originally published in the late 16th century the first three books in 1590 and the next three in 1596 with the ""Mutabilitie Cantos"" added in 1609 Spenser's ambitious Arthurian allegory was the first epic that ""both incorporated countless mythological and folkloric traditions and exemplified the careful design and poetic quality of written literature"" Clute & Grant 890. Finely printed on handmade paper the Chiswick Press edition with notes and commentary by Thomas Wise was originally issued in 19 parts 1894-96 and stands at the pinnacle of famous illustrator Walter Crane's career. All front wrappers and rear wrappers bound in. Mass 47. Bookplates. Small bookseller ticket.Interiors fine and fresh light soiling to publisher's cloth. A lavishly illustrated and handsomely printed edition in near-fine condition. hardcover
1617ref. 047088London: Humphrey. Lownes. for Mathew Lownes 1617. Early Edition. Hardcover Full Leather. Good Condition. Contemporary calf rebacked and recornered marbled endpapers added hinges reinforced with cloth tape but binding quite sound overall. Lacking the general title and Faerie Queen part two title but with separate title pages for most of the individual parts and an old manuscript Faerie Queen title tipped in at the beginning. Light tide mark occasionally in bottom right corner heavier in last dozen or so pages. Scattered minor browning small marginal repair to C3 right edge of Foure Hymnes Title replaced - generally very good or better internally. Faerie Queen colophon dated 16012. ESTC S122304 with points B3r stanza 1 begins "Young Knight"; R3r catchword "And". Lacking blank at end of Faeirie Queen; a confusing book to collate but collates as follows: 363pp 10 56pp blank 4 5-16 14 blank 26 22 14 10 14 12 10 6 10 8pp. Faeries Queen The Shepheards Calender Mother Hubberds Tale A Letter of the Authors etc no separate title or pagination Colin Clouts Come Home Againe Prothalamion Foure Hymnes Dapnaida Complaints Containing Sundry Small Poemes of the Worlds Vanitie The Teares of the Muses Virgils Gnat no separate title but half title with dedication The Ruines of Rome no separate title The Fate of the Butterfly Visions of the Worlds Vanitie etc no separate title. A few of the last poems Visions Petrarch Virgil are translations from du Bellay. Old inscription describing provenance on front endpaper. Size: Folio. Quantity Available: 1. Shipped Weight: Under 1 kilo. Category: Literature & Literary; Poetry. Inventory No: 047088. H[umphrey]. L[ownes]. for Mathew Lownes hardcover
1897ref. 1307501897. First Edition. CRANE Walter illustrator SPENSER Edmund. Spenser's Faerie Queene. London: George Allen Chiswick Press 1897. Six volumes. Quarto original white buckram gilt and red cover illustrations top edges gilt uncut. $4000.Limited first book-form edition of Walter Crane's ""most ambitious project of book illustration"" Lacy 103 one of 1000 large-paper copies with 88 splendid full-page pen-and-ink line-cuts two double-page 135 illustrative head- and tailpieces by Crane and six facsimile title pages from earlier editions.""The noblest allegorical poem in our languageÑindeed the noblest allegorical poem in the world"" James Montgomery. Originally published in the late 16th century the first three books in 1590 and the next three in 1596 with the ""Mutabilitie Cantos"" added in 1609 Spenser's ambitious Arthurian allegory was the first epic that ""both incorporated countless mythological and folkloric traditions and exemplified the careful design and poetic quality of written literature"" Clute & Grant 890. Finely printed on handmade paper the Chiswick Press edition with notes and commentary by Thomas Wise was originally issued in 19 parts 1894-96 and stands at the pinnacle of famous illustrator Walter Crane's career. All front wrappers and rear wrappers bound in. Mass 47. Bookplates. Small bookseller ticket.Interiors fine and fresh light soiling to publisher's cloth. A lavishly illustrated and handsomely printed edition in near-fine condition. hardcover books
1897ref. 006745London: George Allen 1897. First edition. Three Quarters Crushed Morocco. Marbled pastedown. Near Fine. One of 1000 unnumbered sets printed. 4to. 27.5 by 22 cm. 19 parts bound in 6 volumes. Pictorial pink wrappers bound in. Plates headpieces and tailpieces by Crane. Gilt rose and leaf pattern in four spine compartments lettering in two. George Allen unknown
1897ref. 006745London: George Allen 1897. First edition. Three Quarters Crushed Morocco. Marbled pastedown. Near Fine. One of 1000 unnumbered sets printed. 4to. 27.5 by 22 cm. 19 parts bound in 6 volumes. Pictorial pink wrappers bound in. Plates headpieces and tailpieces by Crane. Gilt rose and leaf pattern in four spine compartments lettering in two. George Allen unknown books
1751ref. 33225London: for J. Brindley in New Bond-Street and S. Wright Clerk of his Majesty's Works. 1751. 3 volumes. Very Scarce First Printing of the Edition. A copy with pleasing provenance coming from the library and with the bookplate of John Templer who was educated at Westminster School and Trinity College Cambridge graduating in 1836. He was admitted to the Inner Temple in 1837. Templer became a close friend of James Brooke through his elder brother James Lethbridge Templer 1811–1845 of the East India Company Merchant Navy. Templer acted as Brooke's legal counsel. In 1853 Templer was called to the bar and from 1854 he was one of the Masters of the Court of Exchequer Illustrated with 32 very finely engraved full-page copper plates and engraved head and tailpieces and initials throughout. Large thick quartos in very fine contemporary polished calf the spines with raised bands gilt ruled two compartments with fine contrasting maroon and black morocco lettering labels gilt the remaining compartments with central gilt tooling original endleaves. 2 lxiii xxxvii 453 2; 2 450; 2 440 pp An unusually fine handsome and beautifully bound set. The bindings are in excellent condition and these are crisp clean copies especially so. Very rarely are such fine copies encountered in the marketplace. TRULY FINE COPIES OF THIS BEAUTIFUL PRINTING OF SPENSER'S FAIRIE QUEENE ONE OF THE GREATEST WORKS IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE. Edmund Spenser stands with William Shakespeare and John Milton in the history of English poetry and litereature. He is recognized as one of the premier craftsmen of modern English verse from its infancy and one of the greatest poets in the language. Spenser was known to his contemporaries as "the prince of poets” and was said by them to be "as great in English as Virgil in Latin”. He was greatly preferred over Shakespeare by Queen Elizabeth and many others of the day. He left behind his masterful essays in every genre of poetry from pastoral and elegy to epithalamion and epic. A century later John Milton would call Spenser "a better teacher than Aquinas” and was greatly influenced by him. Since then generations of readers have admired his subtle use of language his imagination his immense classical and religious learning and "his unerring ability to synthesize and ultimately to delight”. THE FAERIE QUEEN is Spenser’s best known work and arguably his best. It is especially notable for its form: it was the first work written in what is now called Spenserian stanza and is also one of the longest poems in the English language. An allegorical work written in praise of Queen Elizabeth I it is largely symbolic the poem follows several knights in an examination of several virtues. It found not surprisingly great political favour with Elizabeth I and was such a public success that it quickly became Spenser's defining work. The last six books of the twelve Spenser intended were never written though two cantos noted as the Seventh and Eighth Bookes appear here. for J. Brindley, in New Bond-Street and S. Wright, Clerk of his Majesty's Works.... hardcover
1897ref. 1243241897. First Edition. CRANE Walter illustrator SPENSER Edmund. Spenser's Faerie Queene. London: George Allen Chiswick Press 1897. Six volumes. Quarto contemporary three-quarter vellum gilt brown morocco spine labels marbled endpapers top edges gilt uncut; original wrappers bound in at rear of each volume. $5200.Limited first book-form edition of Walter Crane's ""most ambitious project of book illustration"" Lacy 103 one of 1000 large-paper copies with 88 splendid full-page pen-and-ink line-cuts two double-page 135 illustrative head- and tailpieces by Crane and six facsimile title pages from earlier editions. Handsomely bound by J. Adams of Manchester.""The noblest allegorical poem in our languageÑindeed the noblest allegorical poem in the world"" James Montgomery. Originally published in the late 16th century the first three books in 1590 and the next three in 1596 with the ""Mutabilitie Cantos"" added in 1609 Spenser's ambitious Arthurian allegory was the first epic that ""both incorporated countless mythological and folkloric traditions and exemplified the careful design and poetic quality of written literature"" Clute & Grant 890. Finely printed on handmade paper the Chiswick Press edition with notes and commentary by Thomas Wise was originally issued in 19 parts 1894-96 and stands at the pinnacle of famous illustrator Walter Crane's career. All front wrappers and rear wrappers bound in. Mass 47. A splendid set of this delightful illustrated edition in fine condition. hardcover
1897ref. 1243241897. First Edition. CRANE Walter illustrator SPENSER Edmund. Spenser's Faerie Queene. London: George Allen Chiswick Press 1897. Six volumes. Quarto contemporary three-quarter vellum gilt brown morocco spine labels marbled endpapers top edges gilt uncut; original wrappers bound in at rear of each volume. $5200.Limited first book-form edition of Walter Crane's ""most ambitious project of book illustration"" Lacy 103 one of 1000 large-paper copies with 88 splendid full-page pen-and-ink line-cuts two double-page 135 illustrative head- and tailpieces by Crane and six facsimile title pages from earlier editions. Handsomely bound by J. Adams of Manchester.""The noblest allegorical poem in our languageÑindeed the noblest allegorical poem in the world"" James Montgomery. Originally published in the late 16th century the first three books in 1590 and the next three in 1596 with the ""Mutabilitie Cantos"" added in 1609 Spenser's ambitious Arthurian allegory was the first epic that ""both incorporated countless mythological and folkloric traditions and exemplified the careful design and poetic quality of written literature"" Clute & Grant 890. Finely printed on handmade paper the Chiswick Press edition with notes and commentary by Thomas Wise was originally issued in 19 parts 1894-96 and stands at the pinnacle of famous illustrator Walter Crane's career. All front wrappers and rear wrappers bound in. Mass 47. A splendid set of this delightful illustrated edition in fine condition. hardcover books
1903ref. ST20957London: John & E. Bumpus 1903. 211 x 140 mm. 8 1/2 x 5 1/2". 86 pp. LOVELY GREEN MOROCCO GILT AND INLAID FOR J. & E. BUMPUS stamped in gilt on rear turn-in LIKELY BY RIVIERE & SON upper cover with gilt fillet frame central panel with densely blind-stamped leafy vines on a gilt pointillé background accented with onlaid red morocco dots large oval at center and four smaller ovals all framed by gilt beads the central oval adorned with four gilt and onlaid red and white morocco Tudor roses 10 more such roses at corners and along the sides of outer frame lower cover with gilt fillet frame raised bands spine compartments with blind-stamped leafy sprig on pointillé ground with onlaid black ivory and red morocco dots gilt lettering turn-ins with gilt border gilt trio of leaves at corners all edges gilt. With engraved frontispiece portrait title page vignette two headpieces and two tailpieces. Upper cover and spine evenly faded to olive green likely from being displayed just a hint of bowing to boards but A VERY FINE COPY the text entirely clean fresh and bright and the binding unworn. This lovely printing of Spenserian poetry comes in an unusual and skillfully executed binding likely by Riviere & Son which was producing some of its very best work at the time of publication. The poems here were inspired by Spenser's courtship of and 1594 marriage to his second wife Elizabeth Boyle. Day calls "Amoretti" "a unique sonnet sequence in Renaissance England" and he is unreserved in his praise for "Epithalamion" calling it "the most beautiful nuptial poem in English and perhaps in any language." Spenser 1552 - 99 was the first modern English poet to achieve major stature and Day points out that those "influenced by Spenser are virtually a roster of the great English poets since his time" among them Milton Wordsworth Keats Rossetti and Tennyson. Bumpus bindings were done for the bookselling firm of John and Edward Bumpus founded in 1780. The firm long enjoyed a reputation as purveyors of fine and beautiful bindings without ever operating a bindery. Instead they outsourced the work to the best binders of the day including Riviere and Morrell the former being a likely choice here. The combination of swirling blind-stamped vines a densely stippled background and onlaid blossoms demonstrates creativity in design proficiency in a range of finishing techniques and meticulous execution. The five blank ovals on the upper cover bring to mind the layout of Cosway bindings a specialty of the Riviere firm in which those ovals would be filled with miniature paintings on ivory under glass. Cosway bindings could sometimes be ornate to the point of being overwhelming so the blank ovals here are a welcome moment of restraint amid the animation of the cover design. Apparently an earlier owner enjoyed displaying this binding--as who would not--and the leather has mellowed to an olive green--which may actually be a more pleasing foundation for the decoration than the original brighter green. Certainly the book saw no other use as the contents are as fresh as the day the volume left the printer. John & E. Bumpus unknown
1903ref. ST20957London: John & E. Bumpus 1903. 211 x 140 mm. 8 1/2 x 5 1/2". 86 pp. LOVELY GREEN MOROCCO GILT AND INLAID FOR J. & E. BUMPUS stamped in gilt on rear turn-in LIKELY BY RIVIERE & SON upper cover with gilt fillet frame central panel with densely blind-stamped leafy vines on a gilt pointillé background accented with onlaid red morocco dots large oval at center and four smaller ovals all framed by gilt beads the central oval adorned with four gilt and onlaid red and white morocco Tudor roses 10 more such roses at corners and along the sides of outer frame lower cover with gilt fillet frame raised bands spine compartments with blind-stamped leafy sprig on pointillé ground with onlaid black ivory and red morocco dots gilt lettering turn-ins with gilt border gilt trio of leaves at corners all edges gilt. With engraved frontispiece portrait title page vignette two headpieces and two tailpieces. Upper cover and spine evenly faded to olive green likely from being displayed just a hint of bowing to boards but A VERY FINE COPY the text entirely clean fresh and bright and the binding unworn. This lovely printing of Spenserian poetry comes in an unusual and skillfully executed binding likely by Riviere & Son which was producing some of its very best work at the time of publication. The poems here were inspired by Spenser's courtship of and 1594 marriage to his second wife Elizabeth Boyle. Day calls "Amoretti" "a unique sonnet sequence in Renaissance England" and he is unreserved in his praise for "Epithalamion" calling it "the most beautiful nuptial poem in English and perhaps in any language." Spenser 1552 - 99 was the first modern English poet to achieve major stature and Day points out that those "influenced by Spenser are virtually a roster of the great English poets since his time" among them Milton Wordsworth Keats Rossetti and Tennyson. Bumpus bindings were done for the bookselling firm of John and Edward Bumpus founded in 1780. The firm long enjoyed a reputation as purveyors of fine and beautiful bindings without ever operating a bindery. Instead they outsourced the work to the best binders of the day including Riviere and Morrell the former being a likely choice here. The combination of swirling blind-stamped vines a densely stippled background and onlaid blossoms demonstrates creativity in design proficiency in a range of finishing techniques and meticulous execution. The five blank ovals on the upper cover bring to mind the layout of Cosway bindings a specialty of the Riviere firm in which those ovals would be filled with miniature paintings on ivory under glass. Cosway bindings could sometimes be ornate to the point of being overwhelming so the blank ovals here are a welcome moment of restraint amid the animation of the cover design. Apparently an earlier owner enjoyed displaying this binding--as who would not--and the leather has mellowed to an olive green--which may actually be a more pleasing foundation for the decoration than the original brighter green. Certainly the book saw no other use as the contents are as fresh as the day the volume left the printer. John & E. Bumpus unknown books
