Troilus and Criseyde by Chaucer, Geoffrey - 1927

Berkshire: Golden Cockerel Press, 1927. Gill, Eric. This handsome volume is Eric Gill's tour-de-force, his wood engravings appearing in the outer margin of every page of text. The decorations show leafy vines that frame and interlace the characters, who seem to be taking part in and commenting on the stories themselves. Troilus and Criseyde is one of the three most important books of the Golden Cockerel Press, and it precedes the other two, The Canterbury Tales and The Four Gospels. Of the three, it also has the smallest limitation. In discussing these three books, Colin Franklin writes that "Eric Gill's work goes back into the history of printed books and manuscripts, joining two arts with unique success." Of this volume, he goes on to say that the illustrations are "affectionate and cheeky, erotic, enjoyable and relevant, decorative and explanatory, a balance of taste and eye. Author, artist and printer have shared one concept and expressed it." Quarto. xi, 312pp. One of 225 copies printed on Kelmscott paper in black, red, and blue. The Garden copy, with leather booklabel on front pastedown. Slight rubbing to corners, few spots of foxing to fore-edge of text block, else a fine copy in morocco-backed patterned paper boards, spine in six compartments and gilt stamped with the title. T.e.g. (Franklin, pp. 142-144; Chanticleer 50; Gill 279).