A note on his aims in founding the Kelmscott Press. Together with a short description of the Press by S.C. Cockerell, & an annotated list of the books printed thereat

Book Description

[colophon: Hammersmith, London: Kelmscott Press, sold by the Trustees of the late William Morris, 4th March 1898]. Octavo. (8 1/8 x 5 5/8 inches). Printed in red and black, in Golden, Troy and Chaucer types. 1 large woodcut illustration of "Psyche borne off by Zephyrus" by William Morris after Sir Edward Burne-Jones, 2 woodcut borders and other floral and foliate ornaments. (Without the loose erratum slip). Original holland- backed blue/grey paper-covered boards by J. & J. Leighton, letterpress titling to the upper cover, folding cloth chemise, blue morocco-backed cloth slipcase, the spine gilt (light scuffing to spine with small splits to weave of the cloth, spine of slipcase slightly discoloured and scuffed). A fine copy of the final book to be printed at Kelmscott Press (limited to 537 copies, this one of 525 on paper): a summation of the aims and achievements of the archetypal private press. This work is not only beautifully produced, but also includes interesting information relating to the Arts and Crafts movement in general and the way it effected book design in particular: included are Morris's ideas on fine printing and book illustration, Sydney Cockerell's history of the Press and a useful bibliography of all the Kelmscott productions. The Kelmscott Press, now the most famous of the private presses, was established by William Morris at Hammersmith, London, in January 1891 in order to produce examples of improved printing and book design. The books were designed to make reference to the methods and techniques he used, what he saw as traditional methods of printing and craftsmanship, in line with the Arts and Crafts movement as a whole, and in response to the prevalence of lithography, particularly those lithographic prints designed to look like woodcut prints. He designed clear typefaces, such as his Roman 'golden' type, which was inspired by that of the early Venetian printer Nicolaus Jenson, and decorative borders for books that drew their inspiration from the incunabula of the 15th century and their woodcut illustrations. Selection of paper and ink, and concerns for the overall integration of type and decorations on the page made the Kelmscott Press the most famous of the private presses of the Arts and Crafts movement. It operated until 1898, producing 53 works, comprising 69 volumes, and inspired other private presses, notably the Doves Press, Eragny, Ashendene and Vale Presses. Peterson A53; Sparling p.171

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