Reprinted from Caxton's Edition of 1484. Together with L'Ordene de Chevalerie, a French Poem of the 13th Century, and The Ordination of Knighthood, Translated by William Morris.
The Order of Chivalry Reprinted from Caxton's Edition of 1484. Together with L'Ordene de Chevalerie, a French Poem of the 13th Century, and The Ordination of Knighthood, Translated by William Morris.
Kelmscott Press, 1893.
First edition. One of 225 copies. Small 4to. Bound in publisher's original limp vellum with green ties. Engraved frontispiece by Sir Edward Burne-Jones and title page with an ornamental grape vine border. Decorative woodcut initials and borders. Titles printed in red. A very good copy indeed.
This volume is testament to the spontaneous nature of Morris's Kelmscott productions. Originally planned to include only Caxton's Order of Chivalry, this text was finished on 10th November, 1892. On a whim Morris decided to add L'Ordene de Chevalerie and translated the poem for this book. Sidney Cockerell's diary has the following entry, "Sat: Dec. 3. W. M. began the translation of an old French poem from which Caxton seems to have derived the idea of the Order of Chivalry. It was wonderful to watch the words slipping into their places". The text for the latter sections was printed by February 24th 1893 and bears a separate colophon.
PROVENANCE: Bookplates of poet, Francis Edwin Murrey and John Rashleigh.
Stock ID: 31647
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