1914 Rare 1stED - Poems of William Morris by Pre-Raphaelite Florence Harrison
Author: William Morris. Illustrated by Florence Harrison.
Title: Early Poems of William Morris.
Publisher: London, Glasgow & Bombay, Blackie & Son Ltd., 1914. First Edition.
Language: Text in English.
Size: 10 x 7.5 inches.
Pages: xiv + 194 pages.
Binding: Attractive and very good publisher’s original pale blue-grey cloth binding, beautifully decorated in gilt to the upper cover and spine in an elegant Pre-Raphaelite-inspired design (hinges fine, overall slightly worn, bumped and scuffed - as shown) under a protective removable mylar cover. Upper edge gilt.
Content: Very good content (bright, tight and clean, rare light foxing and staining - as shown, includes an early gift inscription dated 1919 on the first blank page - as shown, three plates show light staining in the outer margin, not affecting the image - as shown).
Illustrations: A richly illustrated edition, containing 16 tipped-in colour plates and numerous black-and-white decorations by Florence Harrison, one of the major female illustrators of the Golden Age of book illustration. Plates retain good-to-very good tissue guards. Complete.
Estimate: (USD 400–500).
The book: A beautiful Arts-and-Crafts era tribute to the early poetic works of William Morris, whose medievalism, romantic symbolism and lyrical melancholy profoundly influenced both literature and design. This First edition, illustrated by Florence Harrison, is prized for its aesthetic unity between text and illustration — a continuation of the Pre-Raphaelite vision Morris himself helped inspire.
The author: William Morris (1834–1896) was a poet, designer, socialist thinker and a central figure of the Arts and Crafts Movement. His writings embrace medieval romance, chivalric longing, and idealized beauty — themes that resonate powerfully in this illustrated volume.
The illustrator: Florence Harrison (1877–1955) stands among the great illustrators of the Golden Age, alongside Rackham and Dulac. Her style blends Pre-Raphaelite lyricism with Art Nouveau grace — rich colours, flowing draperies, symbolic composition — making this edition one of her landmark achievements.