WILLIAM MORRIS' OLD FRENCH ROMANCES, BEAUTIFULLY BOUND IN ELABORATE FULL MOROCCO-GILT

MORRIS, William. Old French Romances Done into English. London: George Allen, 1896. Octavo, full maroon morocco gilt extra, raised bands, elaborately gilt-decorated spine, lilac silk endpapers, top edge gilt. $3200.

First edition of this collection of four French romances translated and prepared for publication by William Morris, beautifully bound by Zaehnsdorf with the oval blind stamp used as "a quality mark on the superior bindings produced by the firm" at the back (Broomhead, Zaehnsdorfs).

"When Morris's developing interest in printing led him to found the Kelmscott Press, whose first publication appeared in May 1891, he put himself in a position to bring out small editions of works that he liked which were unlikely to appeal to a wide readership…" Morris began with several early works of literature, including translations of several French works. "With his interest in medieval French literature stimulated in this way, Morris went on to translate the four 13th-century stories that came to constitute Old French Romances in 1896" (Peter Faulkner, William Morris Archive, University of Iowa Library). Joseph Jacobs' introduction draws attention to both the appeal of Morris's translations, "reproducing, as his alone can do of living men's, the tone, the colour, the charm of the Middle Ages," and the inaccessibility of the individual works prior to this combined edition. Published in the same year in New York. Contains: "The Tale of King Coustans The Emperor"(first published separately by Morris at Kelmscott in 1894); "The Friendship of Amis and Amile"(first published separately in 1894); "The Tale of King Florus and the Fair Jehane" (first published separately in 1893); and "The History of Over Sea" (first published in this collection). With an introduction by literary critic and folklorist Joseph Jacobs. See Buxton Forman, 154. Inked owner name dated 1897.

One leaf with outer margin chipped; joints and spine ends expertly repaired, small scuff to lower outer front edge. About-fine in a striking Zaehnsdorf binding.