THE POETICAL WORKS OF PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY

London & New York: Macmillan & Co., 1900. Bound in sumptuous midnight blue full levant by Bumpus Binders of Oxford, 8vo., 708 pages including index of first lines. Engraved frontispiece portrait of Shelley. The binding is, like the poet, deeply romantic. The six paneled spine is laden with gilt hearts and sinuous gilt borders punctuated by chaste pointielles. Both upper and lower covers have dual linear borders and gilt hearts, the design beautifully mirrored on the turn-ins. All edges gilt. Aside from some light minor wear, primarily confined to the lower cover, this is an exceptionally handsome binding from the Art Nouveau period of design. A perfect marriage of poetry and the bookbinder's art.