THE STORY OF CUPID AND PSYCHE.
With illustrations designed by Edward Burne-Jones, mostly engraved on the wood by William Morris; the introduction by A.R. Dufty. 2 volumes.
- London and Cambridge: Clover Hill Editions, 1974.
- 4to.
- quarter blue cloth with patterned paper covered boards, leather spine labels, top edges gilt, slipcase.
- xiv, 35, 26; (vi), 92, (4) pages.
Price: $1,000.00 other currencies
Order Nr. 107196
Limited to 400 copies printed by the Rampant Lions Press, of which this is one of 270 numbered copies (Rampant Lions Press no.62; A Century for a Century 80). A fine set.
The first volume contains the introduction with collotype plates of preparatory drawings and comparative material; volume two contains the poem and engravings. Printed on J. Green mould-made paper. William Morris had originally commissioned these plates for The Earthly Paradise, of which Cupid and Psyche forms a part. The book was abandoned, partly because Morris was eager to see his first book off the press and turned to shorter works, and partly because in the early days of the press there was no type which harmonized with the engravings. The plates found their way to the Society of Antiquaries, London, and lay dormant until they were acquired by the Carters who began to work on this important edition. See the exhibition catalogue on the Rampant Lions Press (pp.52-54) for the facsinating story of this production.