Robert Browning
The Last Ride, 1900
East Aurora, NY, The Roycroft Shop
One of 940 copies signed by Elbert Hubbard, and the illuminator, Emma Johnson.
705
Octavo. 8 ff., frenchfold. Designed by Samuel Warner. Illustrated throughout with hand-illumined art nouveau borders. Arguably the most handsome book produced by the Roycrofters. Susan Thompson in 'American Book Design...
Octavo. 8 ff., frenchfold. Designed by Samuel Warner. Illustrated throughout with hand-illumined art nouveau borders. Arguably the most handsome book produced by the Roycrofters. Susan Thompson in "American Book Design and William Morris" noted: "Warner's masterpiece is probably the Art Nouveau borders he designed for "The Last Ride." Uniform offsetting to front endleaves from silk paste-downs, which show some marginal chips; publisher's yapp-edged gilt-stamped limp vellum slightly dusty, with minor spotting to both covers. All linen ties intact and uncut. Laid into this copy is the seldom-encountered printed notice from the Roycrofters cautioning owners against cutting the french fold pages. (McKenna 59).