A Bibliography of The Kelmscott Press (The Soho Bibliographies).

Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1984. Hardback. [i - xi], xii, [xiii], xiv - xvi, [xvii], xviii - xxii, [xxiii], xxiv - xxxii, [xxxiii], xxxiv - xxxvi, [xxxvii], xxxviii, [xxxix], xl - xliii, [1 - 3], 4 - 205, [206 - 207], 2087 - 217pp. Publisher's original red boards with gilt to spine. Dust jacket in a protective sleeve. The Kelmscott Press (1891 - 98), founded by William Morris, is probably the most influential of all the private presses. By emphasizing the fundamental importance of excellent ink and paper, well-designed typefaces and handsome ornaments, Morris revived the book arts and produced a series of fifty two books that are still widely admired and collected. This bibliography was based upon Sydney C. Cockerell's "An Annotated List of All the Books Printed at the Kelmscott Press in the Order in Which They Were Issued" (1908). It describes the published works of the Press, books that were contemplated but not actually printed and advertising circulars and other ephemera; a final section supplies the texts of eight contracts and memoranda for Kelmscott books. The author has drawn heavily upon unpublished letters and diaries in his notes on the production history of each book. The sections entitled 'Related Materials' list for every Kelmscott book the locations of designs, trial pages, proofs, association copes etc. The introduction, again based on fresh primary material, treats such matters as Morris's paper, ink, illustrations, types, ornaments, presses, cancels, and finances. Book in near fine condition with little sign of use. Very clean both internally and externally. Dust jacket near fine and unclipped. A little colour loss to spine.