MORRIS (William)

The Earthly Paradise.

First editions. Four vols. in three, as issued. 8vo. Woodcut design of three musicians by Morris on title-pages and colophon. Publisher’s original green cloth with original paper labels. Bindings bumped and rubbed at each corner, some cockling to the cloth, all joints cracked, boards and spines of vols. 2 and 3 almost entirely separated from text block, some spotting to endpapers. London, F. S. Ellis. 1868, 1870, 1870, 1868.

£1,500.00

Inscribed by Morris on the front free endpaper of Vol.1, ‘With the Author’s compliments’ and with Morris’ holograph correction in the margin on p.75 of ‘my’ for ‘thy,’ a misprint concurrent with the first issue of the first edition [Forman 17].

Volume III (physical vol. 2) has 2pp. publisher’s ads inserted at front [as called for by Forman 23].

Volume IV (physical vol.3) has, as Forman notes it should, an additional title page and label for the 1868 version of Volume I inserted at back (reprinted with 1870 on it to match the latter two vols). Forman notes that “I have met with very few copies of Part IV containing the extra title and label.” This vol. with ownership inscription of “John Henry Metcalfe. Crayke Castle. 1892”. Crayke Castle is a 15th Century castle in North Yorkshire and Metcalfe is described as a ‘well-known antiquary’ in the Plantagenet Roll.

Stock No.
224939