Thomas Gray
An Elegy in a Country Churchyard, 1901
Boston: Craftsman's Guild
One of 150 copies. Signed by the calligrapher, Herbert Gregson, and the illuminator, Dorothy Copley.
2429
Small quarto. (21)ff, frenchfold. Initials and floral designs all drawn by hand and as the colophon states, 'without the aid of type.' These Dorothy Copley has hand-colored and illuminated. The...
Small quarto. (21)ff, frenchfold. Initials and floral designs all drawn by hand and as the colophon states, "without the aid of type." These Dorothy Copley has hand-colored and illuminated. The colophon also notes that though every book was ornamented by Gregson, the illuminations were executed by "a member of the guild," and it thus seems reasonable to assume that copies were assigned to a range of participants. Copley's presence in the Guild and her contribution here attests to the esteem garnered by women in the Arts & Crafts movement at the turn of the century. Given institutional commentary on other copies as only partly finished, this is likely among the most complete of an ambitious edition. Bound in quarter vellum with gilt titling, with gray paper over boards. Rubs to edges, light soiling to vellum spine, else very good. Former owner's signature to front flyleaf.


