Item #6969 [Wright, Frank Lloyd- Pinnacle of Association and Binding: Doves Press Bindery, Signed by Cobden-Sanderson, Chauncey Williams' Copy (Publisher) of Frank Lloyd Wright's first book, and RARE "PROOF BEFORE LETTERS" TITLE PAGE] The Eve of St. Agnes, With an Appreciation by Leigh Hunt. John Keats.
[Wright, Frank Lloyd- Pinnacle of Association and Binding: Doves Press Bindery, Signed by Cobden-Sanderson, Chauncey Williams' Copy (Publisher) of Frank Lloyd Wright's first book, and RARE "PROOF BEFORE LETTERS" TITLE PAGE] The Eve of St. Agnes, With an Appreciation by Leigh Hunt
[Wright, Frank Lloyd- Pinnacle of Association and Binding: Doves Press Bindery, Signed by Cobden-Sanderson, Chauncey Williams' Copy (Publisher) of Frank Lloyd Wright's first book, and RARE "PROOF BEFORE LETTERS" TITLE PAGE] The Eve of St. Agnes, With an Appreciation by Leigh Hunt
[Wright, Frank Lloyd- Pinnacle of Association and Binding: Doves Press Bindery, Signed by Cobden-Sanderson, Chauncey Williams' Copy (Publisher) of Frank Lloyd Wright's first book, and RARE "PROOF BEFORE LETTERS" TITLE PAGE] The Eve of St. Agnes, With an Appreciation by Leigh Hunt
[Wright, Frank Lloyd- Pinnacle of Association and Binding: Doves Press Bindery, Signed by Cobden-Sanderson, Chauncey Williams' Copy (Publisher) of Frank Lloyd Wright's first book, and RARE "PROOF BEFORE LETTERS" TITLE PAGE] The Eve of St. Agnes, With an Appreciation by Leigh Hunt

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[Wright, Frank Lloyd- Pinnacle of Association and Binding: Doves Press Bindery, Signed by Cobden-Sanderson, Chauncey Williams' Copy (Publisher) of Frank Lloyd Wright's first book, and RARE "PROOF BEFORE LETTERS" TITLE PAGE] The Eve of St. Agnes, With an Appreciation by Leigh Hunt

River Forest, Illinois: The Auvergne Press, printed on a hand press by , by William H. Winslow and Chaucey L. Williams, 1896.

First and Only Edition. Octavo. 7 1/2 x 5 inches (19 x 12.5 cm). One of Sixty-five Copies (The colophon bears three contemporary manuscript additions in red and pencilóìXIX,î ìDecember,î and the copy number (#2)órecording an early, presentation-state issue at the moment of completion. Featuring a wonderful Doves Binding printed under the direction of COBDEN-SANDERSON, WITH HIS FULL SIGNATURE AND DATE IN PEN AT THE END, AND A NOTE ON THE FACING PAGE: "BOUND BY COBDEN-SANDERSON, AND SIGNED," IN PENCIL. The binding is of exhibition quality: covers framed by multiple gilt fillets with tooled floral cornerpieces and foliate sprays, spine divided into gilt-decorated panels with leafy ornaments and the title lettered in gold, elaborately gilt turn-ins, and broad gilt floral doublures, all edges finely gilt, and sewn on raised bands. Wide dentelles with four parallel gilt fillet borders, floral sprays and dots at corners, with binder's gilt signature to lower left, rear: The Doves Bindery, 18 C - S 98. CHAUNCEY WILLIAMS' OWN COPY, FOUNDER AND PRINTER OF THE AUVERGNE PRESS, WITH HIS DECORATIVE BOOK PLATE ON FRONT PASTEDOWN. CONTAINS A HITHERTO UNCITED PROOF OF THE FAMOUS TITLE PAGE, BEFORE LETTERS, JUST PRIOR TO THE USUAL TITLE PAGE.

One of sixty-five copies printed on hand-made paper, this an exceptionally early, press-house example distinguished by an extended preliminary sequence comprising ten blank leaves, the rare proof leaf without letters preceding the true title. The binding, inscribed by Cobden-Sanderson himself, was likely commissioned by personal contact with Chauncey Williams, the publisher of the Auvergne Press, and co-publisher of the renowned Way and Williams Chicago publishing firm. Interestingly, Williams was simultaneously co-founder of the Chicago trade firm (founded 1895) and proprietor of the Auvergne Press (founded 1896), maintaining a deliberate division between commercial publishing and private-press craftsmanship. The Eve of St. Agnes belongs to the latter category, where limited, hand-printed editions allowed for expermiental design and early collaborations, including this notable title-page desgin by Frank Lloyd Wright, his first artistic appearance in book form. The title-page design is credited in the colophon as ìspecially made for it by Frank L. Wright,î and the volume retains the Auvergne Press device (ìAd Gustumî) on the terminal leaf. A singular convergence of late-nineteenth-century private-press printing, Frank Lloyd Wrightís early book design, and a wonderful Doves Bindery/Cobden-Sanderson binding, offered in a rarely encountered proof-and-manuscript state that places this copy among the most complete and compelling examples of American and English Arts & Crafts bookmaking. In fine condition.

Price: $22,500.00   Item #6969

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