The Faerie Queene

£9,500 · Offered by Shapero Rare Books

Vellucent binding by Chivers One of 100 copies on handmade paper of this English epic poem, first published in 1590, signed by the illustrator. Following a lecture by Cyril Davenport of the British Museum on the 18th century painted vellum bindings of Edwards of Halifax, Cedric Chivers created his own 'Vellucent' bindings using established artists such as Jessie M. King, Alice Shepherd, and H. Granville Fell. In its prime, the company experimented and specialised in highly skilled and beautiful bindings; this example being one of them. Chivers was born in Bath to a bookbinding family. After working for his father and various other binders, he opened his own business in 1878, in the premises formerly occupied by Robert Rivière in Union Street, Bath. He subsequently moved to a double fronted shop at 39 Gay Street and then, as the business expanded, to a large house at Portway in Combe Park where the company operated until 1990. Limited edition of 100 copies printed on handmade paper, each one signed by the illustrator underneath the printed colophon at the rear; ' This book is bound and decorated and colour by Cedric Chivers, designed by', followed by ink manuscript asterisk since not a large enough space for signature, hence below; 3 vols, 4to (265 x 210 mm); half–titles, titles printed in red and black with woodcut borders, 26 woodcut illustrations (several double–page), decorative headpieces, initials, and tailpieces by Fairfax–Muckley, a few text leaves still uncut, age-ton

• Binding: Hardcover

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