JUSTINIAN AND THEODORA. A DRAMA BEING A CHAPTER OF HISTORY AND THE ONE GLEAM OF LIGHT DURING THE DARK AGES. by Hubbard, Elbert and Alice - (1906)

Elbert Hubard, 1906. 1st. Paperback. Fine. First trade edition bound in leather wraps, cover stamped in blind and gilt.

East Aurora, New York; (1906): Roycrofters. Octavo. 107 pages. Since the turn of the century, Hubbard wanted to find something entirely new and experimental. In June 1903, Dard Hunter (1883-1966), then only nineteen came to East Aurora, who designed format, designed the title pages and end pieces and plan the finest typographical layouts. In Hunter's autobiography he describes his training at roycroft and concludes that: "Mr. Hubbard probably had more influence in the development of book-collecting than any other person of his generation" (My Life with Paper, pp. 29-43). Dard Hunter's designs show that he carefully studied the German and Austrian periodicals. His style was a formalized Art Nouveau. This clarity was lacking in the earlier Roycroft books. His work was a departure from the work of Samuel Warner. Even though Dard Hunter left East Aurora in 1910 to continue his studies in Vienna, his borders and spot decorations were used in later editions of the Roycrofter books. The term "eke… Read More

The Roycrofters, East Aurora, New York, 1906 Octavo, 107 pages, Number 47 of 106 copies printed on Japan Vellum and signed by Elbert Hubbard. A pristine copy bound in three-quarter morocco over marbled boards, likely done by Louis Herman Kinder. Six paneled spine, gilt, one with title, one with the author's names and four with lovely stylized daisies and foliage, dated 1906 at the bottom. Top edge gilt. Decorative double title page, colophon and head pieces designed by Dard Hunter, executed in burnt orange and black. Portraits of Alice and Elbert on facing pages. The extraordinary condition of the book is due to the presence of the original felt-lined clamshell box and fragile glassine wrapper. The box, although quite worn on all of the edges remains complete with titled paper label. The glassine wrapper is also worn, with several tears and chips but both flaps are still present. It is rare indeed to find a copy of this book with both the box and glassine wrapper still present. A stellar copy of one… Read More