Kelmscott Chaucer

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Kelmscott Chaucer

1Glacierman
Modifié : Juin 1, 2022, 3:26 am

Copy coming up for auction soon. Have a look-see!

There's a GCP Four Gospels in that sale, also.

2Lukas1990
Juin 1, 2022, 4:05 am

3SF-72
Juin 1, 2022, 8:32 am

>1 Glacierman:
>2 Lukas1990:

Fascinating, and I love the extra information about the importance of the work in the Abebooks listing.

4dlphcoracl
Modifié : Juin 1, 2022, 1:43 pm

>3 SF-72:

Buddenbrooks Inc. in Newburyport, Massachusetts, is an outstanding bookshop I have known for decades. Their books are priced toward the high(er) end of any given range but their book condition is usually representative of the best condition a given book can be found in. Very pleasant and knowledgeable, I might add - always a pleasure to talk with over the phone. They are 1 of 2 outstanding bookshops in Massachusetts - Bromer Booksellers (Boston) is the other.

5LBShoreBook
Juin 1, 2022, 12:33 pm

>1 Glacierman: At those prices a look-see will be the extent of my involvement. 🤣

6Glacierman
Juin 1, 2022, 2:21 pm

>5 LBShoreBook: Yeah, that about covers it for me as well.

7SF-72
Juin 1, 2022, 3:08 pm

I'll never be able to afford an original, but I'm very happy with my Folio Society facsimile. That being said, I recently visited the William Morris Gallery (a museum) in London, where they had several original books by Kelmscott Press. Those were a real pleasure to look at, as well as the wide range of other works by Morris.

8DenimDan
Juin 1, 2022, 3:40 pm

I will take all the flack I've got coming to me for this, but here it goes anyway: Kelmscott Chaucer is another one of those works whose historical importance I fully recognize but find utterly undesirable as a collector. I am aware that without Wm Morris et al. that this hobby/obsession of ours would look quite different. And this book in particular evinces craftsmanship and vision on a level that is rarely matched. On top of that, as a former medievalist, I share a lot of Morris' literary interests. Heck, I even studied this edition (years ago).

But my goodness: those borders are the worst kind of gaudy! I know, I know: different place and time. The borders and initials are, of course, wonders of woodcutting and printing. Same with the (non-ornamental) art: if you really dig Victorian illustrations, then it probably doesn't get any better than this for you. But for me, I enjoy pretending that Joseph Cornell picked up the most beautiful scraps of that era. If in another world I were bequeathed a Kelmscott, I would immediately flip it.

Long-winded way of saying "to each his own." As with any other book, of course!

>4 dlphcoracl: Seconded on those two booksellers. Bromer is usually more in my price range. I've sold to them as well, and I can attest that they have the highest standards when it comes to condition. Very good people in the trade there in MA.

9grifgon
Juin 1, 2022, 3:50 pm

>8 DenimDan: I agree, Dan, the Kelmscott books hold very little appeal to me as a collector. Morris is to be treasured as a father of the movement, but his aesthetic is not particularly vital today. The pillows in my living room are a Morris print, though!

10Glacierman
Juin 1, 2022, 5:24 pm

>8 DenimDan: >9 grifgon: When I was working in the Coe Library at the University of Wyoming, oh, so many years ago, I spent a great deal of leisure time in the rare book room where I got to handle some original Kelmscott books---no Chaucer though. Some had the fancy foliated borders, and several did not, but they all sure were a joy to behold and, yes, fondle!! As far as the Chaucer goes, I've had to settle for the World reduced facsimile and probably always will. I find them all---even the Chaucer---most delightful.

11DWPress
Juin 2, 2022, 12:08 am

I'm fortunate to own a few Kelmscott books and they are a joy to behold for sure but certainly not reading copies - not even in Morris's day.

Kate Hudson had one of the full size reproductions in one of her designer bindings at Codex this year. It was huge and unwieldy and I'd rather not want to have to accommodate it in my library!

12Glacierman
Juin 2, 2022, 12:24 am

>11 DWPress: Yes, the Chaucer is a monster, for sure! Even the reduced size World facsimile is a beast. I have made short reading excursions into it, but had to place it on a desk or table to do so. For extensive reading, I have other, more practical editions of his works. But I do enjoy browsing through it from time to time. I once had the opportunity to browse through a copy of the Basilisk Press facsimile of the Kelmscott Chaucer, and that was a pleasure, but no, you wouldn't want to READ the thing. Too big!

13Flaubie
Juin 2, 2022, 6:07 am

>12 Glacierman: I am reading the Basilisk Press facsimile on a Stilt book cradle, which works beautifully. Unfortunately, it does not help me with the Middle English.

14SDB2012
Juin 2, 2022, 11:33 am

Anyone know Elon/Jeff/Bill/Warren or other mega-billionaire? Whatever our book interests, we can all agree that the greatest Fine Press Library in the world would be an enormous boon to humankind. And, of course, it should be built in Indianapolis. Well, maybe we can't agree on that but I'll find a sweet, sweet, spot for it.

15grifgon
Juin 2, 2022, 11:51 am

>14 SDB2012: I vote for Indianapolis too!

My grandmother was born in Sherkieville, Indiana. I'm one quarter Hoosier.

16punkzip
Modifié : Juin 2, 2022, 12:35 pm

>14 SDB2012: The best candidate might be Taylor Kirkpatrick. I've not heard of him but he is a Denver based book collector who recently donated 400K to Arion/Grabhorn. You certainly do not have to be a billionaire to amass a world class fine press collection. The amounts involved are a pittance compared to the fine art market.

17NathanOv
Juin 2, 2022, 2:36 pm

>16 punkzip: "The best candidate might be Taylor Kirkpatrick."

I don't know him personally, but he's a pretty interesting guy - he sits on the board for one of my non-profit
clients, but he's a lifelong investment professional who pivoted into agriculture and farm ownership, writing a children's book somewhere along the way.

18SDB2012
Modifié : Juin 2, 2022, 3:42 pm

>15 grifgon: Sherkieville? Schererville?

>16 punkzip: I'm envisioning a library, not a collection. You have a point. The Chaucer sold for $75k. I thought it was estimated at $150k. Perhaps we need the fine press equivalent of the giving pledge. +) And, Denver would be awesome.

20ubiquitousuk
Modifié : Juin 2, 2022, 5:19 pm

>14 SDB2012: Not exactly what you have in mind, but the nearest thing I am aware of to a billionaire doing this kind of thing is the Walker Library of the History of Human Imagination see https://youtu.be/LOCqVm2yz2c , and especially https://youtu.be/u-rEGr5cEHU

It's worth having a browse online about this library. Besides the usual array of interesting and important books, there are all kinds of other fascinating artefacts in there and Jay Walker seems to be super passionate about sharing the wonder of the whole enterprise.

21SDB2012
Juin 2, 2022, 6:14 pm

>20 ubiquitousuk: That is fantastic!

22Sport1963
Juin 2, 2022, 6:16 pm

>14 SDB2012: Jay Walker may fit the bill. He was one of the "collectors" featured in the documentary "The Booksellers". Here's a youtube of his library collection. He's a serious collector.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUSxXsRIcGM

23Joshbooks1
Juin 4, 2022, 10:03 am

>4 dlphcoracl: No mention of Brattle Books?!? After all of my bookstore travels in and out of the US this continues to be my favorite. Wonderful staff, huge rotating selection and also has a decent fine press/rare books section upstairs. And although not fine press, Harvard Bookstore and Ravens (used to be on Newbury Street and Harvard Square and relocated to a larger building in Harvard Square,) are amazing. I always wanted to like Commonwealth Books but most of their books are quite overpriced in my opinion and being so close to Brattle I'd rather spend my time and money there. Ah, how i miss living in Boston and frequenting those stores.

25grifgon
Juin 22, 2022, 3:20 pm

>24 Lukas1990: Gotta love the $15 shipping charge on a $110,000 book 😂

26Lukas1990
Juin 22, 2022, 3:22 pm

>25 grifgon: NO TRACKING! :)))

27NathanOv
Juin 22, 2022, 3:25 pm

>25 grifgon: They'll even combine orders for just $5 extra!

28kdweber
Juin 22, 2022, 7:30 pm

>25 grifgon: Hope they don’t ship it in just a padded envelope (that would be some envelope).

29Glacierman
Juin 23, 2022, 12:14 am

And it's in the original half-holland and boards binding. So many copies were rebound. Definitely drool-worthy.

30Lukas1990
Nov 4, 2022, 11:51 am

31Glacierman
Nov 4, 2022, 1:36 pm

>30 Lukas1990: Stunning!

32ultrarightist
Nov 4, 2022, 2:17 pm

>30 Lukas1990: In a bespoke contemporary binding no less. Looks like the binding at least is in fine condition.

33Stephan68
Nov 4, 2022, 2:59 pm

34MobyRichard
Modifié : Nov 4, 2022, 4:05 pm

>33 Stephan68:

This is the one to get: https://kelmscottchaucer.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/jewelled-binding.jpg

Sangorski and Sutcliffe jeweled binding.

35SDB2012
Nov 4, 2022, 4:47 pm

>30 Lukas1990: Can't believe it lasted so long after you posted it here. +)

Buy Used
US$ 258,896.04
Convert Currency
Shipping: US$ 27.65
From United Kingdom to U.S.A.

36grifgon
Nov 4, 2022, 11:27 pm

Cheap!

If somebody really wanted to spend money on their collection, they'd buy this Thornwillow full leather presidential set. It even comes with some pens!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/394198808968?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-...

37ChestnutPress
Nov 5, 2022, 5:12 am

>36 grifgon: That is utterly ridiculous! 🤣🤣🤣

38Lukas1990
Nov 27, 2022, 3:47 am