Dante Gabriel Rossetti
George Bell & Sons, 1899.
First edition, special subscriber's issue finely bound by Douglas Cockerell in full brown morocco in the Arts and Crafts style. 4to (340 x 225mm). Gilt rules to covers, with the corners of the central panel showing Rossetti's palindromic date of birth and death. With a delicately decorated central emblem, a wreath in gilt with green calf onlays surrounding Rossetti's initials. Six raised bands to the spine, decorated in blind, with gilt compartments and titles. The binding stamped with Cockerell's cipher and dated 1899 to rear turn-in. All edges gilt. Photogravure frontispiece portrait of Rossetti after Frederick Hollyer, and 99 further plates, one being double-page and chiefly reproductions of Rossetti's work. Thirty of these are photogravures on Japon. Laurence Housman's designs for the cover and spine of the trade edition are bound in, the design for the cover bound to the front, and the design for the spine bound to the rear. A fine copy, the binding notably free from wear and the very light toning to the spine is minor. Internally crisp, clean and fresh, with some very light foxing affecting gatherings DD-EE only.
An exceptional copy of Marillier's monumental work on Dante Gabriel Rossetti, one of a very small number of copies specially bound by Douglas Cockerell in this fine Arts & Crafts binding.
A contemporary advertisement issued by Bell noted that "a few copies will also be issued for subscribers, bound in African leather by Douglas Cockerell." These subscribers' copies were sold for £10 10s, while the trade edition was available for £5 5s.
Stock ID: 40898
£6,500.00
