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The Recuyell of the Historyes of Troye
Author: Raoul Lefèvre (French, active about 1460)
Translator: William Caxton (British, about 1421–1491)
Editor: H. Halliday Sparling (British, active in late 19th century)
Typographical design by: William Morris (English, 1834–1896)
Printer and Publisher: Kelmscott Press, Hammersmith
Translator: William Caxton (British, about 1421–1491)
Editor: H. Halliday Sparling (British, active in late 19th century)
Typographical design by: William Morris (English, 1834–1896)
Printer and Publisher: Kelmscott Press, Hammersmith
1892
Place of Publication: Hammersmith, England
Medium/Technique
Illustrated book with woodcut decorative borders and initials
Dimensions
Overall (Vol. 1): 29.7 x 22.2 x 3.5 cm (11 11/16 x 8 3/4 x 1 3/8 in.)
Overall (Vol. 2): 29.7 x 22.4 x 4.5 cm (11 11/16 x 8 13/16 x 1 3/4 in.)
Overall (Vol. 2): 29.7 x 22.4 x 4.5 cm (11 11/16 x 8 13/16 x 1 3/4 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of Arthur and Charlotte Vershbow
Accession Number1998.582
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsEurope, Prints and Drawings
ClassificationsIllustrated books
Hammersmith: Kelmscott Press, 1892
Catalogue Raisonné
Peterson, Kelmscott Press, A8
Description(Hammersmith [London]: Kelmscott Press, 1892) 29.7 cm; two vols.: (1) xv, 295 pp.; (2) pp. 297-718; original publisher's gilt-stamped limp vellum with blue silk ties by J. Leighton (white cardboard boxes).
The original edition of the Recuyell was translated and printed by William Caxton in 1473--the first book printed in English. Morris reprinted several of Caxton's works, forming an important homage to early printing and the epitome of his arts and crafts ideals. He designed the elaborate title page, other decorative borders and initials. This was also the first book use of Morris's Troy type, based on early types by Schoeffer, Zainer, and Koberger (the actual first use was in the 1891 prospectus for this book), and his Chaucer type. The paper was handmade by James Batchelor, with watermark of a bunch of flowers with Morris's initials. The two volumes are bound in typical Kelmscott limp vellum with blue silk ties, by J. Leighton. Printed in an edition of 300 copies on paper and five on vellum.
The original edition of the Recuyell was translated and printed by William Caxton in 1473--the first book printed in English. Morris reprinted several of Caxton's works, forming an important homage to early printing and the epitome of his arts and crafts ideals. He designed the elaborate title page, other decorative borders and initials. This was also the first book use of Morris's Troy type, based on early types by Schoeffer, Zainer, and Koberger (the actual first use was in the 1891 prospectus for this book), and his Chaucer type. The paper was handmade by James Batchelor, with watermark of a bunch of flowers with Morris's initials. The two volumes are bound in typical Kelmscott limp vellum with blue silk ties, by J. Leighton. Printed in an edition of 300 copies on paper and five on vellum.
ProvenanceF. B. Lord, New York (invoice from Bangs & Co., NY, Feb. 21, 1898); acquired in 1986 from Goodspeed's Bookshop, Boston, by Arthur and Charlotte Vershbow, by whom given to MFA, Dec. 31, 1998.