Beschreibung:

KELMSCOTT PRESS. [FROISSART, JEAN. The Chronicles of Fraunce, Inglande and Other Places. Hammersmith], September 1897 [issued October 7, 1897]. Two trial pages for the projected edition, large folio sheet, printed on one side only, folded at center, traces of mounting tape along outer edges of verso, slight wrinkling, narrow faint dampstain at lower blank margin of left-hand page . ONE OF 160 COPIES ON VELLUM, printed in Chaucer type in black and red (headings in Troy type), right-hand page (opening page of Prologue) with full woodcut border incorporating 3 armorial shields and large initial capial T by C. E. Keates, left-hand page with broad armorial border at bottom and smaller initial F by W. Spielmeyer, printed statement on the recto of that page: "These two trial pages of the projected edition of Lord Berners' translation of Froissart were printed at the Kelmscott Press in September, 1897, to preserve the designs made for the work by William Morris ..." Cockerell 46; Peterson A46. "It was the intention of Mr. Morris to make this edition of what was since his college days almost his favourite book, a worthy companion to the Chaucer. It was to have been in two volumes folio... Early in 1893 trial pages were set up in the Chaucer type, and in the list for March 9 of that year the book is erroneously stated to be in the press, & the number to be printed is given as 150. Meanwhile the printing of the Chaucer had begun & it was not feasible to carry on two folios at the same time..." (Cockerell). "Though it was several times announced as in the press, the Froissart continued to be held in abeyance while work on the Chaucer progressed. It was definitely abandoned only after Morris's death" (Peterson, p. 127).