Gothic Architecture: A Lecture for the Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society

London/Hammersmith: Kelmscott Press, 1893. Limited First Edition. hardcover. Very Good. 5 13/16" × 4 1/16" × 3/8" (14.8 × 10.3 × 1 cm) . First State. Printed by and sold by William Morris. 16mo. Bound in publisher's original hardcover quarter Holland-backed blue paper boards, with white linen spine and black titles to cover. One of 500 [of a total run of 1,500, at two shillings and sixpence] paper copies (plus 45 [at ten and fifteen shillings] on vellum). Printed on fine, hand-made, Batchelor (with the second version of the Primrose watermark) paper. Uncut, deckled edges. Colophon. [ii], 1 (title), [i], 68, [viii] pp. Printed in black and red throughout in the Golden type designed by Morris for his press. Head-title and shoulder-notes in red. Numerous 6- and 4-line woodblock initial capitals all designed by Morris, engraved by William Harcourt Hooper. Morris used his four-line initials for this first time with this, his first book printed in the 16mo format. This lecture was setup at Hammersmith and printed at the New Gallery during the Arts and Crafts Exhibition in October and November, 1893. The first copies were ready on October 21, and the book was twice reprinted before the Exhibition closed. It was the first book printed in 16mo. The 4-line initials used in it appear here for the first time. The vellum copies were sold during the Exhibition at ten shillings, and the price was subsequently raised to fifteen shillings.From the colophon on page 68: "This paper, first spoken as a lecture at the New Gallery, for the Arts & Crafts Exhibition Society, in the year 1889, was first printed by the Kelmscott Press during the Arts and Crafts Exhibition at the New Gallery, Regent Street, London, 1893. Sold by William Morris, Kelmscott Press, Upper Mall, Hammersmith." [LeMire 176; Peterson A18; Sparling 18; Forman 146]. This copy is one with the first-issue typo on page 45 "Van Eyk" (instead of "Van Eyck") and "Gilds" in red (instead of "Guilds") on page 41. There were three issues of 500 each, for a total run of 1,500. The first was printed in public demonstrations during the 1893 Arts and Crafts Exhibition held in the New Gallery and was one of the most popular attractions at the exposition. Extremities slightly rubbed and some spotting and foxing to front, small spot on back cover, else a very good copy. Condition overall: Very Good.