The Lute of Love

London: Selwyn & Blount for The Curwen Press, 1920. First edition of this anthology of English love poems illustrated by Claud Lovat Fraser, featuring lyrics by Edmund Spenser, Philip Sidney, Thomas Wyatt, Christopher Marlowe, and John Dryden, among others. The illustrations in this copy were hand-colored by artist Pauline Stone at the request of her father, children’s book collector (and Fraser’s friend) Wilbur Macy Stone; Pauline Stone would go on to become a celebrated designer of bookplates. The striking binding of The Lute of Love represents the first use by the Curwen Press of one of Fraser’s patterned papers (Millard 164.) A unique and very nearly fine association copy, entirely hand-colored. Twelvemo, measuring 6.5 x 4 inches: 66. Original color-patterned paper-covered boards, pastedown label to spine and front board (hand-colored). Black and white illustrations throughout text, hand-colored by Pauline Stone, whose name has been added in ink to the title page: “Coloured by Pauline Stone,” with pencil note “(by request of WMS!)” Errata slip pasted to page 66. Bookseller label of Neighborhood Book Shop (435 Park Avenue, New York) to rear pastedown. Lightest toning. (Inventory #: 1003991)