Hammersmith: Kelmscott Press, 1893. First Kelmscott edition. Presentation copy, inscribed by Morris on the second blank three days before publication, “To Edward Burne-Jones from William Morris, April 9th 1893.” Burne-Jones’s book label, printed in Morris’s Golden type, to upper pastedown. This is one of 225 copies printed on paper; there were also ten on vellum.

Small quarto. Original limp vellum, smooth spine lettered in gilt in Chaucer type, yapp edges, edges untrimmed, yellow silk ties. Woodcut frontispiece designed by Burne-Jones, ornamental woodcut borders and initials, printer's device. Contents printed in Chaucer type in red and black. With twentieth-century cataloguing slip loosely inserted. Front board bowed, internally bright and clean. A Near Fine copy.

Burne-Jones was deeply drawn to the idealized world of medieval chivalry and knights, a fascination which he shared with other pre-Raphaelite artists and with the members of the arts and crafts movement, including Morris. Chivalry, with its themes of honor, courtly love, and mysticism, inspired some of Burne-Jones's most celebrated artworks, such as The Merciful Knight and the Holy Grail tapestries, the latter depicting scenes from the legend of King Arthur. One of his favorite books was The Broadstone of Honour (1822), a collection of stories on Christian chivalry, which he kept at his bedside throughout his life.

This is the first Kelmscott book printed entirely in the Chaucer type. The Order of Chivalry is in Caxton's translation, edited by Morris's friend Frederick Startridge Ellis (1830 - 1901). This is followed by the “Ordene de chevalerie,” an anonymous Old French medieval poem, with Morris’s translation. In his diary, on November 12, 1892, Morris’s secretary Sydney Cockerell noted: “Saw the sheets of Caxton’s Order of Chivalry the printing of which is just complete. It is the prettiest book yet done” (Peterson).

Peterson A13. (Item #6864)