OF THE FRIENDSHIP OF AMIS AND AMILE.
Hammersmith: Kelmscott Press – (Morris William), 1894. one of 500. Linnen backed paper boards. First Kelmscott edition, one of 500 paper copies; a further 15 vellum copies were also issued. The story of Amis and Amile is an old French romance, based on a widespread legend of friendship and sacrifice. As a template for his translation into English, Morris used the collection »Nouvelles françaises en prose du XIIIème siecle« by L. Molland and CD Hericault (Paris 1856), where he also found the texts of »The Tale of the Emperor Coustans« (see cat no . 134) and The Tale of King Florus. – All three issues were self-published. 14.8 : 10.8cm. [8], 67, [5] pages. Morris translated the story of Amis and Amile while in the midst of writing his Prose Romances, and employs similar medieval vocabulary, using the romance genre to "demonstrate the values of association, fellowship and mutual aid as against modern individualism and introspection" (Vaninskaya). Peterson A23. Mary Ashe Miller, "A Twentieth Century Apartment", Vogue, 3 August 1929; Anna Vaninskaya, William Morris and the Idea of Community: Romance, History and Propaganda, 1880-1914, 2010. Sextodecimo. Original linen-backed blue paper boards, front cover lettered in black, edges untrimmed. Printed in Chaucer type. – Impeccable condition. Peterson A 23 – Tomkinson 113, 23 – Ransom 327, 23. Very Good. Item #520
Price (USD): $2,750.00