¶ Morris — Poems by the Way (1891)

Morris, William. Poems by the Way. London: Reeves and Turner, 1891.

Limited edition: no. 1 of 100 copies. Morris book label.

Provenance: Morris. — Charles Fairfax Murray. — Fairfax Murray sale, Christie, 19 March 1918, lot 551 (part). — Charles F. Smith. — New Britain Institute Library (gift of Smith). — Quaritch list of new acquisitions (December 2018), no. 11 (£1,250). — Unlocated.

¶ Cleasby — Icelandic–English dictionary (1869)

Cleasby, Richard, and Gudbrand Vigfusson. An Icelandic–English dictionary. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1869.

Provenance: Morris. — Unlocated.

Reference: Morris catalogue (2), no. 691 (where it is misdated 1859).

Digital version: HathiTrust.

¶ Herodotus — Historiographi libri novem (1526)

Herodotus. Herodoti Halicarnassei Historiographi libri novem. Cologne: Eucharius Cervicornus for Gottfried Hittorp, 10 January 1526.

With Morris book label. Shortly after Morris’s death, his executors sold several books privately to Fairfax Murray (who at one time hoped to buy the entire library), and this seems likely to have been one of them, since it does not appear in the 1898 Sotheby catalogue. A further complication is that when it was auctioned in 1917 (see below), the catalogue entry fails to mention Morris, but it is almost certainly the same book, since the binding (half russia) is identical.

Provenance: Morris. — Charles Fairfax Murray. — Fairfax Murray sale, Christie, 11 December 1917, lot 212. — Unlocated.

Reference: Fairfax Murray Catalogue (German), 1, no. 198.

¶ Moland — Nouvelles françoises en prose du XIIIe siécle (1856)

Moland, Louis Émile Dieudonné, and Charles d’Hâericault. Nouvelles françoises en prose du XIIIe siécle. Bibliothèque elzevirienne. Paris: Pierre Jannet, 1856.

With a note by Robert Steele: “Used by Morris in his translation of King Florus, Amis and Amile, and the Emperor Coustans.”

Provenance: Morris. — Richard Bennett. — Sotheby 1898, lot 42 (part; sold to Breslauer for £1 9s.). — Caxton Head [Tregaskis] catalogue 539, July 1903. — Unlocated.

Reference: MS catalogue (2), no. 67.

Digital version: HathiTrust.

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Sotheby 1898:

¶ Moland — Nouvelles françoises en prose du XIV siécle (1856)

Moland, Louis Émile Dieudonné, and Charles d’Hâericault. Nouvelles françoises en prose du XIVe siécle. Bibliothèque elzevirienne. Paris: Pierre Jannet, 1858.

The Sotheby 1898 catalogue indicates that Morris owned two copies of this title.

Provenance: Morris. — Richard Bennett. — Sotheby 1898, lot 42 (part; sold to Breslauer for £1 9s.). — Unlocated.

Digital version: HathiTrust.

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Sotheby 1898:

¶ Wright — Les cent nouvelles nouvelles (1858)

Wright, Thomas, ed. Les cent nouvelles nouvelles. Bibliothèque elzevirienne. 2 vols. Paris: Pierre Jannet, 1858.

Provenance: Morris. — Richard Bennett. — Sotheby 1898, lot 42 (part; sold to Breslauer for £1 9s.). — Unlocated.

Digital version: HathiTrust.

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Sotheby 1898:

¶ Straparola — Les facétieuses nuits de Straparole (1857)

Straparola, Gianfrancesco. Les facétieuses nuits de Straparole. Bibliothèque elzévirenne. 2 vols. Paris: Pierre Jannet, 1857.

Provenance: Morris (purchased for 6d.). — Richard Bennett. — Sotheby 1898, lot 42 (part; sold to Breslauer for £1 9s.). — Unlocated.

Reference: MS catalogue (1), fol. 15v.

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Sotheby 1898:

¶ Montaiglon — Le livre du chevalier de la Tour-Landry (1854)

Montaiglon, Anatole de. Le livre du chevalier de la Tour-Landry. Bibliothèque elzevirienne. Paris: Pierre Jannet, 1854.

Provenance: Morris. — Richard Bennett. — Sotheby 1898, lot 42 (part; sold to Breslauer for £1 9s.). — Caxton Head [Tregaskis] catalogue 539, July 1903, no. 193 (12s. 6d.). — Unlocated.

Digital version: HathiTrust.

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Sotheby 1898:

¶ Morris — Saga library (1891–93)

Morris, William, and Eiríkr Magnússon, trans. The saga library. 3 vols. London: Bernard Quaritch, 1891–93.

Described in the Lobb catalogue as “L.P., Autograph Presentation Copy from Morris, vols 1 to 3, with 8 odd and duplicate vols of the ordinary edition, etc. 12 vols.”

Provenance: Morris. — Jane Morris (?). — May Morris. — Mary Lobb. — Lobb sale 2, no. 486 (sold for £3 5s.). — Unlocated.

Tchernychewsky — Que faire? (1876)

Tchernychewsky, N. G. Que faire? Roman. Milano: Levino Robecchi, 1876.

Provenance: Morris. — Unlocated.

Reference: MS catalogue (2), no. 750.

¶ Mirth in ridicule (1708)

Mirth in ridicule, or a satyr against immoderate laughing. London: J. Morphew, [1708].

Morris book label but not listed in the Sotheby 1898 catalogue.

Provenance: Morris. — Sotheby, 2004, lot 348 (sold for £1,920). — Unlocated.

Reference: ESTC (T118869).

Digital version: EECO.

¶ Rossetti — Family letters (1895)

Rossetti, Dante Gabriel. Dante Gabriel Rossetti: his family letters. Ed. William Michael Rossetti. 2 vols. London: Ellis and Elvey, 1895.

Large paper. This probably passed through the Sotheby 1898 sale, since it has Morris’s book label, but it does not appear in that catalogue.

Provenance: Morris. — W.F.G. — James William Ellsworth. — Rosenbach (sold 27 December 1943 for $25). — Christie, 2004, lot 198 (sold for £1,075). — Unlocated.

Digital version: HathiTrust.

¶ Collection de poésies, romans, chroniques (1838–58)

Collection de poésies, romans, chroniques &c. . . . publié d’après d’anciens manuscrits et d’après des éditions des XVe et XVIe siècles. 25 vols. in 4. Paris: L.-C. Silvestre [and others], 1838–58.

Provenance: Morris. — Unlocated.

Reference: MS catalogue (2), no. 640.

¶ Morris — Manuscript notebook

Morris, William. Manuscript notebook, chiefly notes on books in British Museum.

Provenance: Morris. — Unlocated.

Reference: MS catalogue (2), no. 6.

¶ Spruner von Merz — Spruner-Menke atlas antiquus (1865)

Spruner von Merz, Karl. Spruner-Menke atlas antiquus. Ed. Theodorus Menke. Germany: J. Perthes, 1865.

This collection of maps went through several editions; we are not sure which version Morris owned.

Provenance: Morris. — Richard Bennett. — Sotheby 1898, lot 1136 (part; sold to Henry Wellcome for 11s.). — Henry Wellcome. — Wellcome Library [deaccessioned]. — Unlocated.

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Sotheby 1898:

¶ Morris — Defence of Guenevere (1875)

Morris, William. The defence of Guenevere and other poems. London: Ellis & White, 1875.

Large paper.

Provenance: Morris. — Unlocated.

Reference: MS catalogue (2), no. 176.

¶ Magnússon — Volsünga saga (1870)

Magnússon, Eiríkr, and William Morris, trans. Volsünga saga. The story of the Volsungs and Niblungs, with certain songs from the elder Edda. London: F. S. Ellis, 1870.

Large paper; presentation copy from Morris to unidentified recipient (probably Jane Morris), in a binding designed by Elizabeth Burden (Jane’s sister) and executed by T. J. Cobden-Sanderson. Two pages of the book are decorated by Morris.

Provenance: Morris. — Jane Morris (?). — May Morris. — Mary Lobb. — Lobb sale 2, lot 471 (perhaps sold for £22; in the British Library copy of the catalogue, the lot is marked both “Sell” and “Keep”). — Unlocated.

Reference: LeMire, p. 51.

¶ Chaucer Society’s publications

Chaucer Society’s publications.

One lot in the Sotheby 1898 catalogue (see below) included a substantial collection of miscellaneous publications by the Chaucer Society (founded in 1868): First Series, 14 numbers (between 16 and 43); Second Series (18 numbers); A six-print text of Chaucer’s Canterbury tales, ed. Frederick J. Furnivall; and Chaucer’s various writings (10 vols.). The books probably came to Morris as gifts from his friend Furnivall, the founder of the Society.

Provenance: Morris. — Richard Bennett. — Sotheby 1898, lot 210 (sold to Sotheran for £1 18s.). — Unlocated.

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Sotheby 1898:

¶ Conradus, de Brundelsheim — Sermones (1480)

Conradus, de Brundelsheim [Soccus]. Sermones de tempore. Deventer: Richardus Pafraet, 1480.

Provenance: Morris. — Richard Bennett. — Sotheby 1898, lot 1124 (sold to Proctor for £5 10s.). — Robert Proctor. — Unlocated.

References: Ellis valuation, fol. 42 (10s.). — ISTC (is00588000). — MS catalogue (2), no. 932, p. 85 (with an X beside the title).

Digital version: ULD.

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Sotheby 1898:

¶ Aquinas (c. 1500) and Biel (1499)

The following titles were bound together but were separated after Morris’s death:

[1] Aquinas, Thomas, Saint. In hoc libello continentur tres tractatuli. Primus est sancti Thome Aquinatis de mirabili quidditate et efficacia venerabilis sacramenti eucharistie. Secundus est magistri Nicolai de lyra de idoneo ministrante suscipiente idem sacramentum. Tercius est alicuius docti collectoris de expositione dominice orationis. [Cologne: Heinrich Quentel, c. 1500.]

Digital version: Google.

[2] Biel, Gabriel. Epitoma expositionis sacri canonis missae. Ed. Wendelin Steinbach. Tübingen: [Johann Otmar for Friedrich Meynberger, 1499.]

Illustrated.

Reference: ISTC (ib00654000).

Digital version: BSB.

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Provenance: Morris. — Richard Bennett. — Sotheby 1898, lot 1078 (sold to Proctor for £1 16s.). — Robert Proctor. — [Aquinas only:] — Christie (South Kensington), 20 September 1996, lot 2 (sold to Maggs for £1,255). — Maggs catalogue 1220, no. 8. — Unlocated.

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Sotheby 1898:

¶ Boedhvarsson — Riimur af Ingvari Viidfaurla og Sveini Syni Hans (1777)

Boedhvarsson, Arni. Riimur af Ingvari Viidfaurla og Sveini Syni Hans. [Iceland:] Hrappsey, 1777.

Provenance: Morris. — Unlocated.

Reference: MS catalogue (2), no. 50.

¶ Horae (c. 1520)

Horae. Paris, c. 1520.

We have been unable to identify this book. The entry in MS catalogue (2) reads: “Book of Hours printed on vellum (imperfect, printed at Paris about 1520).”

Provenance: Morris. — Unlocated.

Reference: MS catalogue (2), no. 38 (with two X’s beside the title).

¶ Magnússon — Volsünga saga (1870)

Magnússon, Eiríkr, and William Morris, trans. Volsünga saga. The story of the Volsungs and Niblungs, with certain songs from the elder Edda. London: F. S. Ellis, 1870.

In a binding designed by Philip Webb..

Provenance: Morris. — Unlocated

Reference: MS catalogue (2), no. 250.

¶ Morris — Aeneids of Virgil (1876)

Morris, William, trans. Aeneids of Virgil. 2 vols. London: Ellis & White, 1876.

Large paper.

Provenance: Morris. — Unlocated.

References: LeMire, p. 65. — MS catalogue (2), no. 175.

¶ Duns Scotus — Quaestiones (c. 1477)

Duns Scotus, John [Johannes]. Quaestiones selectae abbreviatae et ordinatae per alphabetum super quattuor libris Sententiarum Petri Lombardi Quodlibetisque Metaphysicae et De Anima. Ed. Johann, von Köln [Johannes de Colonia]. [Venice]: Vindelinus de Spira, [c. 1477].

The edition we have chosen is conjectural. The full entry in MS catalogue (2) is “Petri Lombardi sententiae sine loco et n. probably printed at Venice.”

Provenance: Morris. — Unlocated.

References: ISTC (id00384000). — MS catalogue (2), no. 802 (with two X’s next to the title).

¶ Morris — Earthly paradise (1872)

Morris, William. The earthly paradise. 10 vols. London: Ellis and Green, 1872.

“Popular Edition. In ten parts.” An incomplete set: includes parts 3, 4, 5, 6, 10.

Provenance: Morris. — Unlocated.

Reference: MS catalogue (2), no. 260.

¶ Plates of a book about the making of tapestry

Plates of a book about the making of tapestry.

Unidentified. The full entry in MS catalogue (2) is “The Making of Tapestry. Plates only. Paris.”

Provenance: Morris. — Unlocated.

Reference: MS catalogue (2), no. 335.

¶ Album of eastern illuminations

Album of eastern illuminations.

Unidentified. The full entry in MS catalogue (2) is “Album of Eastern Illuminations (Delhi work seemingly).”

Provenance: Morris. — Unlocated.

Reference: MS catalogue (2), no. 353.

¶ Facsimiles of ancient manuscripts (1873–?)

Facsimiles of ancient manuscripts. London: Paleographical Society, 1873—?

This series continued into the twentieth century, so it is unclear how many volumes Morris owned.

Provenance: Morris — Unlocated.

Reference: MS catalogue (2), no. 324.

¶ Lemprière — Biblioteca classica (1825)

Lemprière, John. Biblioteca classica, or a classical dictionary containing a full account of all the proper names mentioned in ancient authors, with tables of coins, weights and measures in use among the Greeks and Romans. London: T. & J. Allman, 1825.

MS catalogue (2) does not identify the date of this book, which went through many editions.

Provenance: Morris. — Unlocated.

Reference: MS catalogue (2), no. 294.

¶ Morris — Life and death of Jason (1877)

Morris, William. The life and death of Jason: a poem. 7th ed. London: Ellis and White, 1877.

With corrections in pencil.

Provenance: Morris. — Unlocated.

Reference: MS catalogue (2), no. 263.

Digital version: Google.

¶ Sturluson — Sagan af Agli Skallagrímssyni (1856)

Sturluson, Snorri. Sagan af Agli Skallagrímssyni. Ed. Jón Þorkelsson. Reykjavík: Einar Þórðarson, 1856.

Provenance: Morris. — Unlocated.

Reference: MS catalogue (2), no. 274.

¶ Kringvåra balk (?)

Kringvåra balk (?)

We cannot identify this book. The entry in MS catalogue (2) reads: “Kringvara balk (lacks title) printed in Iceland about 1680.”

Provenance: Morris. — Unlocated.

Reference: MS catalogue (2), no. 271.

¶ Bulteau — Description de la cathédrale de Chartres (1850)

Bulteau, Marcel Joseph. Description de la cathédrale de Chartres. Chartres: Garnier and others, 1850.

Illustrated.

Provenance: Morris. — Unlocated.

Reference: MS catalogue (2), no. 149.

¶ Bayet — L’art byzantin (1883)

Bayet, Charles. L’art byzantin. Paris: A. Quantin, 1883.

Illustrated.

Provenance: Morris. — Unlocated.

Reference: MS catalogue (2), no. 130.

¶ Jean, d’Arras — Melusine (1854)

Jean, d’Arras. Melusine. Ed. Charles Brunet. Paris: Pierre Jannet, 1854.

Based on Paris, 1478 edition.

Provenance: Morris. — Richard Bennett. — Sotheby 1898, lot 42 (part; sold to Breslauer for £1 9s.). — Unlocated.

Reference: MS catalogue (2), no. 62.

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Sotheby 1898:

¶ Brunet — Le violier des histoires romaines (1858)

Brunet, Gustave, ed. Le violier des histoires romaines: ancienne traduction françoise des Gesta Romanorum. Paris: Pierre Jannet, 1858.

Provenance: Morris. — Richard Bennett. — Sotheby 1898, lot 42 (part; sold to Breslauer for £1 9s.). — Unlocated.

Reference: MS catalogue (2), no. 63.

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Sotheby 1898:

¶ Jacobus, de Voragine — Golden legend (1892)

Jacobus, de Voragine. The golden legend. Trans. William Caxton and ed. F. S. Ellis. 3 vols. Hammersmith: Kelmscott Press, 1892.

Morris’s copy, with some manuscript notes.

Provenance: Morris. — Parke-Bernet, 13 March 1971, lot 347. — Unlocated.

Reference: Bibliography, A7.

¶ Morris — Dream of John Ball (1892)

Morris, William. A dream of John Ball and A king’s lesson. Hammersmith: Kelmscott Press, 1892.

Frontispiece by Burne-Jones. Vellum copy. Inscribed “Sold to Henry Gamman, August 1897. S. C. Cockerell.” Clipped signature of Morris tipped in.

Provenance: Morris estate. — Henry Gamman (purchased from the Morris estate, August 1897; sold August 1899). — Marsden J. Perry. — Perry sale, American Art Association, Anderson Galleries (New York), 12 March 1936, lot 244 (sold for $60). — Unlocated.

References: Bibliography, A6. — Marsden Perry List, no. 18.

¶ Rossetti — Hand and soul (1895)

Rossetti, Dante Gabriel. Hand and soul. Hammersmith: Kelmscott Press, 1895.

Vellum copy. Inscribed “Sold to Henry Gamman, August 1897. S. C. Cockerell.” Clipped signature of Morris tipped in.

Provenance: Morris. — Henry Gamman (purchased from the Morris estate, August 1897; sold August 1899). — Marsden J. Perry. — Perry sale, American Art Association, Anderson Galleries (New York), 12 March 1936, lot 274 (sold for $60). — Unlocated.

References: Bibliography, 36. — Marsden Perry List, no. 165.

¶ Ellis — Syr Perecyvelle of Gales (1895)

Ellis, F. S., ed. Syr Perecyvelle of Gales. Hammersmith: Kelmscott Press, 1895.

Vellum copy. Inscribed “Sold to Henry Gamman, August 1897. S. C. Cockerell.” Clipped signature of Morris tipped in.

Provenance: Morris. — Henry Gamman (purchased from the Morris estate, August 1897; sold August 1899). — Marsden J. Perry. — Perry sale, American Art Association, Anderson Galleries (New York), 12 March 1936, lot 275 (sold for $35). — Parke-Bernet, 5 November 1946, lot 311. — Unlocated.

References: Bibliography, A33. — Marsden Perry List, no. 153.

¶ Wardrop — Book of wisdom and lies (1894)

Wardrop, Oliver, trans. The book of wisdom and lies. Hammersmith: Kelmscott Press, 1894.

Vellum copy. Inscribed “Sold to Henry Gamman, August 1897. S. C. Cockerell.” Clipped signature of Morris tipped in.

Provenance: Morris. — Henry Gamman (purchased from the Morris estate, August 1897; sold August 1899). — Marsden J. Perry. — Unlocated.

References: Bibliography, A28. — Marsden Perry List, no. 105.

¶ Morris — Of the friendship of Amis and Amile (1894)

Morris, William, trans. Of the friendship of Amis and Amile. Hammersmith: Kelmscott Press, 1894.

Vellum copy. Inscribed “Sold to Henry Gamman, August 1897. S. C. Cockerell.” Clipped signature of Morris tipped in. (The usual Morris book label had been removed by 1936.)

Provenance: Morris. — Henry Gamman (purchased from the Morris estate, August 1897; sold August 1899). — Marsden J. Perry. — Perry sale, American Art Association, Anderson Galleries (New York), 12 March 1936, lot 258 (sold for $40). — Unlocated.

References: Bibliography, A23. — Marsden Perry List, no. 84.

¶ Rossetti — Sonnets and lyrical poems (1894)

Rossetti, Dante Gabriel. Sonnets and lyrical poems. Hammersmith: Kelmscott Press, 1894.

Vellum copy. Inscribed “Sold to Henry Gamman, August 1897. S. C. Cockerell.” Clipped signature of Morris tipped in.

Provenance: Morris. — Henry Gamman (purchased from the Morris estate, August 1897; sold August 1899). — Marsden J. Perry. — Perry sale, American Art Association, Anderson Galleries (New York), 12 March 1936, lot 264 (sold for $110). — Unlocated.

References: Bibliography, A20a. — Marsden Perry List, no. 86.

¶ Morris — Gothic architecture (1893)

Morris, William. Gothic architecture: a lecture for the Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society. Hammersmith: Kelmscott Press, 1893.

Vellum copy. Inscribed “Sold to Henry Gamman, August 1897. S. C. Cockerell.” Clipped signature of Morris tipped in.

Provenance: Morris. — Henry Gamman (purchased from the Morris estate, August 1897; sold August 1899). — Marsden J. Perry. — Perry sale, American Art Association, Anderson Galleries (New York), 12 March 1936, lot 250 (sold for $30). — Parke-Bernet, 5 November 1946, lot 313. — Unlocated.

References: Bibliography, A18. — Marsden Perry List, no. 63.

¶ Morris — Story of the glittering plain (1891)

Morris, William. The story of the glittering plain. Hammersmith: Kelmscott Press, 1891.

Vellum copy. Morris signature. Inscribed “Sold to Henry Gamman, August 1897. S. C. Cockerell.”

Provenance: Morris. — Henry Gamman (purchased from the Morris estate, August 1897; sold August 1899). — Marsden J. Perry. — Perry sale, American Art Association, Anderson Galleries (New York), 12 March 1936, lot 237 (sold for $125). — Unlocated.

References: Bibliography, A1. — Marsden Perry List, no. 4.

¶ Silvestre — Collection de poésies, romans, chroniques (1839–45)

Silvestre, L. C., and others, eds. Collection de poésies, romans, chroniques. 25 vols. Paris: chez Silvestre, 1838–58.

Illustrated. Morris owned five of the volumes, all in Old or Middle French: (1) Miracle de nostre dame d’ Berthe fẽme du roy Pepin (1839). (2) Le mystere de la vie et hystoire de monseigneur sainct Martin lequel fut Archeuesque de Tours (1841). (3) Miracle de nostre dame de la marquise de la Gaudine (1841). (4) La Marche, Olivier de. Le chevalier delibere (1842). (5) Listoyre de Pierre de Provence et de la belle Maguelonne (1845).

Provenance: Morris. — Richard Bennett. — Sotheby 1898, lot 217 (sold to Bain for £33). — Unlocated.

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Sotheby 1898:

¶ Bulliard — Herbier de la France (1780–93)

Bulliard, Pierre. Herbier de la France: ou, collection complette des plantes indigènes de ce royaume, avec leurs détails anatomiques, leurs propriétés, et leurs usages en medecine. 4 vols. Paris: l’Auteur, 1780–[93].

Illustrated. MS catalogue (2) (see below) identifies this as “Herbier de la France. 1 vol. (plates coloured by hand)”; the volume that Morris owned was probably vol. 2 (flowering plants).

Provenance: Morris. — Unlocated.

Reference: MS catalogue (2), no, 411.

¶ Morris — Hopes and fears for art (1882)

Morris, William. Hopes and fears for art. London: Ellis and White, 1882.

Large paper edition.

Provenance: Morris. — Unlocated.

Reference: MS catalogue (2), no. 428.

¶ Fischbach — Ornament of textile fabrics (1883)

Fischbach, Friedrich. Ornament of textile fabrics. London: Bernard Quaritch, [1883].

Illustrated.

Provenance: Morris. — Unlocated.

Reference: MS catalogue (2), no. 318 (described as “Fishbach’s Textile Ornament in portfolio”).