The Water of the Wondrous Isles.
by KELMSCOTT PRESS: MORRIS, William
- Used
- Hardcover
- first
- Condition
- See description
- Seller
-
London, United Kingdom
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
Hammersmith: Kelmscott Press,, 1897. An early fantasy novel First edition, one of 250 copies from a total edition of 256 copies. Morris first started writing his romance in verse. He then experimented with prose and verse, before deciding on prose alone. The work can, therefore, be seen as an early fantasy novel. The work tells of the adventures of a naked heroine, Birdalone, who escapes from the claws of a witch and travels to a series of fantasy lands, including the Isle of Increase Unsought, which holds a critical mirror to Victorian Britain. Large octavo. Original limp vellum, spine lettered in gilt, green silk ties. Elaborate woodcut borders and ornaments entirely designed by William Morris, "except the initial words Whilom & Empty, which were completed from his unfinished designs by R. Catterson-Smith" (colophon). Text printed in red and black Chaucer type in double columns, with a few lines in Troy type and shoulder-notes in red. Spine toned, as usual, minor foxing, offsetting from silk ties; a near-fine copy with the original ties. Forman 168; Franklin p. 210; Peterson A45; LeMire A-84.01.
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Details
- Bookseller
- Peter Harrington (GB)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 157023
- Title
- The Water of the Wondrous Isles.
- Author
- KELMSCOTT PRESS: MORRIS, William
- Book Condition
- Used
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Place of Publication
- Hammersmith: Kelmscott Press,
- Date Published
- 1897
Terms of Sale
Peter Harrington
All major credit cards are accepted. Both UK pounds and US dollars (exchange rate to be agreed) accepted. Books may be returned within 14 days of receipt for any reason, please notify first of returned goods.
About the Seller
Peter Harrington
Biblio member since 2006
London
About Peter Harrington
Since its establishment, Peter Harrington has specialised in sourcing, selling and buying the finest quality original first editions, signed, rare and antiquarian books, fine bindings and library sets. Peter Harrington first began selling rare books from the Chelsea Antiques Market on London's King's Road. For the past twenty years the business has been run by Pom Harrington, Peter's son.
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- First Edition
- In book collecting, the first edition is the earliest published form of a book. A book may have more than one first edition in...
- Vellum
- Vellum is a sheet of specialty prepared skin of lamb, calf, or goat kid used for binding a book or for printing and writing. ...
- Spine
- The outer portion of a book which covers the actual binding. The spine usually faces outward when a book is placed on a shelf....
- Gilt
- The decorative application of gold or gold coloring to a portion of a book on the spine, edges of the text block, or an inlay in...
- Octavo
- Another of the terms referring to page or book size, octavo refers to a standard printer's sheet folded four times, producing...