The Life of Thomas Wolsey: Cardinal Archbishop of York

London/Hammersmith: Kelmscott Press, 1893. Limited First Edition. limp vellum. Very Good. 8 1/4" × 5 7/8" × 1 1/4" (21 × 14.9 × 3.2 cm) . First Printing. Edited by Frederick Startridge Ellis. Printed by William Morris, and sold by Reeves & Turner. 8vo. Bound in publisher's original limp vellum by J. & J. Leighton, with silk ties supplied by Morris & Co., with gilt titles to spine. One of 250 [at two guineas] paper copies (plus 6 [at ten guineas] on vellum). Printed on fine, hand-made, Batchelor (with the second version of the Primrose watermark) paper, with yapped edges. Uncut, deckled edges. Colophon and the smaller, rectangular printer's device designed by Morris (no. 1). [vii], 1 (foreword),1 (title), 3 (prologue), 286, 1 (colophon), [vii] pp. Printed in black and red throughout in the Golden type designed by Morris for his press. Border 1. Head-title and shoulder-notes in red. 10-line and numerous 6- and one 4-line woodblock initial capitals all designed by Morris, engraved by William Harcourt Hooper. Cavendish was an usher in Wolsey's household between 1526 and 1530 and he wrote this book around 1557. It wasn't printed until a century later but many manuscript copies of it had been handed around so it was well-known. The first printed copy appeared in 1641 taken from one imperfect ms. Morris's aim was to put a more perfect text in print, taken from the author's autograph manuscript in the British Library and edited by F.S. Ellis. It makes fascinating reading with detailed insights into Wolsey's character and lowly beginnings."One special point of interest about it is, that it presents us with the first separate biography in the English language. But for it, we should have but a very imperfect idea of one of the most remarkable figures in English history. Chroniclers, historians, and dramatists have alike been indebted to it in writing of Wolsey."—Morris [Peterson A14.] Library punching that does not effect any text or art. Silk ties lacking. Light wear and soiling to covers. Condition overall: Very Good.