Laudes Beatae Mariae Virginis

Hammersmith: Kelmscott Press, 1896. Limited edition. Near fine. Hardcover. Thin 4to. One of 250 copies from a total edition of 260 copies. Half-borders and 163 initials by William Morris, engraved on wood by W. H. Hooper et al. Woodcut press device in Colophon. Printed in red, black and blue in Troy type on handmade Batchelor Perch paper. Linen spine, blue paper over boards, black printed title on the upper board. Boards lightly soiled else a near fine copy. Several leaves have three dots impressed just at the upper edge of the text which we believe are trim guides for the binder. This is the first Kelmscott edition printed in three colors. Armorial (truncated) bookplate on the front pastedown of C. F. J. Beausure, the noted British watercolor collector.

The text is taken from a 13th century Psalter (The Nottingham Psalter), owned by Morris and edited by Sydney Cockerell. The Laudes are attributed either to Stephen Langdon or John Peckham, both Archbishops of Canterbury.

With the rare slip explaining that a previous printing of the Laudes was made in 1579, but the text is different and 'inferior' to that in this printing and that the manuscript used by Cockerell probably dated from 1228.
. (Inventory #: 23597)