first edition
1878 · London
by Patmore, Coventry
London: Printed at Chiswick Press; C. Whittingham and Co, 1878. First edition. First edition. 4to. Bound in sumptuous late nineteenth century full crushed morocco with attractive rectilinear gilt stamped ruling design on both covers and spine, wide inner dentelles with five parallel gilt lines. ONE OF AROUND 20 COPIES, so noted with a notation in pencil on front free endsheet, and as well, with a letter typed from The Anderson Auction Company (secretary) dated 1910, to Mr. Lewis Kennedy Morse (owner and widely known collector of Patmore) further documenting his inquires, in part: "We have looked through all the sales held in England & for us a good many years and do not find that another copy has ever been offered for sale." Quite a lovely printing with large margins, Kelmscott-style font and attractive strapwork designed initials throughout. Printed on handmade paper, with the beige wrappers bound in at front and back, the front wrapper printed with the title and the date. Uncut. Obviously an excessively rare title, printed in the same year as the first edition of Amelia, one of Patmore's more acclaimed and sought after books, and may represent a concurrent printing (before or after the popularized first edition), to be given as a gift. It is also likely that the book was a trial or a one-off commissioned by Patmore for a special purpose.
(Inventory #: 3682)