Complete Kelmscott Press Collection Sold For $690,000
Of the Friendship of Amis and Amile, translated from the ancient French by Morris, sold for $22,000
A complete collection of the books published by 19th century writer and designer William Morris from his Kelmscott Press has achieved white glove results – 100% sold – at Bonhams.
Offered at auction for the first time in half a century, the collection featured a copy of each of the 53 books published by Kelmscott Press during its seven year run. The highlight of the sale was an 1896 edition of the complete works of Geoffrey Chaucer, the Kelmscott Chaucer, which sold for $115,000.
Overall, the sale – The Complete Kelmscott Press Collection of Joseph Mark Van Horn – achieved $690,000.
“Morris spearheaded a new era of fine book printing, taking inspiration and learning from the way that books were first printed in the 15th century,” said Ian Ehling, Bonhams’ Head of Department, Books and Manuscripts, in New York. “The sale demonstrated that his commitment to craftsmanship is still valued today.”
Additional highlights included:
- A Note on the Founding of The Kelmscott Press by Morris, one of only 12 copies printed on Vellum and the last book printed by the Press, sold for $38,000
- Of the Friendship of Amis and Amile, an extremely rare copy, translated from the ancient French by Morris. One of only 15 copies printed on Vellum, it is the first copy of this type to be sold at auction in 80 years. It sold for $22,000.
- The Golden Legend by Jacobus de Voragine (c. 1230-1298) and translated by William Caxton. Inscribed by Morris and presented to his friend and collaborator Burne-Jones, it sold for $18,000.
- The Book of Wisdom and Lies translated by Oliver Wardrop. Inscribed by Morris to illustrious poet and novelist Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936), it sold for $7,600.
- A rare example of an original title-page design by Morris for Ballads and Narrative Poems by Dante Gabriel Rossetti (1828-1882) sold for $24,000
