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[Roycroft Press]. Robert Browning. So Here Then is the Last Ride. Roycrofters: East Aurora, 1900.... (Total: 2 Items)
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$15,000.00
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Description
One of only 25 copies printed on vellum in a magnificent Louis Kinder binding
[Roycroft Press]. Robert Browning. So Here Then is the
Last Ride. Roycrofters: East Aurora, 1900.8vo (192 x 142 mm). 8 leaves, French fold pages. Illustrated throughout with hand-illumined art nouveau borders in colored wash. Full turquoise levant, elaborately decorated in gilt with morocco onlays, sides and spine with a continuous single gilt-ruled border at edge enclosing a dramatic continuous design comprising intersecting brown and black morocco onlays sweeping across both covers and spine, with a gilt tooled fern spray radiating out from the center, against a backdrop of gilt-tooled stars, elaborately tooled vellum doublures carry the fern motif design, divided into four sections, decorated with gilt intersecting design, at the center of which are four tooled devices: a pair of clasped hands, a pair of hearts pierced by an arrow, an hourglass framed by a compass and scythe, and a memento mori, by Louis Kinder, stamp-signed by the binder on rear turn-in. Housed in a cloth-backed board folding case (presumably the publisher's), with hand-lettered spine label.
ONE OF ONLY 25 COPIES PRINTED ON VELLUM, but according to Hubbard's son "only twenty one were gotten out." Signed on the colophon by Elbert Hubbard, and with an inscription by the illuminator, Frances Carmody. Designed by Samuel Warner, The Last Ride was one of only two or three books printed on pure vellum by the Roycrofters. The present copy features a magnificent binding by Louis Kinder, the most accomplished of the Roycroft binders. Accompanying this copy is a series of three related letters, dated February and March, 1926, from Hubbard's son to a Canadian collector concerning the purchase of this book, which, according to Elbert Hubbard II "had been put away by us as part of our permanent collection," but offered it to correct a misunderstanding about the availability of sheets for binding. Hubbard also admits that, despite the number of copies specified in the colophon, "only twenty-one copies were gotten out." It should be mentioned that the present copy is the final of these, being number 21. Arguably the most handsome book produced by the Roycrofters. In her book American Book Design and William Morris (1977), Susan Thompson writes: "Warner's masterpiece is probably the Art Nouveau borders he designed for 'The Last Ride.'" This Roycroft high spot offered here, bound by its foremost binder in perhaps his most accomplished binding, presents a rare opportunity for collectors of "the book beautiful." Browning's poem "The Last Ride Together," was originally published in his 1855 in his collection Men and Women.
Condition: Faint scuff to outer edge of one front cover onlay. Vellum leaves with the typical wrinkling and waves inherent in fine vellum; occasional flaking of the hand-coloring.
References: Broughton A640.
Auction Info
2024 July 25 Historical Platinum Signature® Auction #6294 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
July, 2024
25th
Thursday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 1
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 375
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