Poems by Robert Bridges
- London: Basil Montagu Pickering, 1873
London: Basil Montagu Pickering, 1873. First edition. Fine. A Fine copy. Octavo (7 3/8 x 5 inches; 187 x 127 mm.). 9, [3], 125, [3] pp. Printer's Aldine anchor device on final leaf, decorative woodcut headpieces and initials. Bound ca. 1900 by Zaehnsdorf in full dark green morocco, stamp signed in gilt on front turn-in and with the 'blind' exhibition stamp on rear paste-down. Covers with gilt fillet border, inlaid violet morocco frame, central panel of upper cover with inlaid bouquet of five pink morocco flowers on curving gilt stems, this surrounded by an animated frame of gilt latice-work, pointille, and curling vines bearing a gilt blossom in each corner, lower cover with central panel outlined by gilt vines and flowers in similar style, smooth spine with inlaid bar of violet morocco at head and foot, with a volute emitting a spray of leafy branches above and below the central gilt title, double-ruled gilt board edges, gilt turn-ins with similar volutes at either side of drawer-handle corner-pieces, dark green silk endleaves, top edge gilt. Small rectangular bookplate of Joseph Manuel Andreini on front blank. Green cloth chemise housed in a green cloth slipcase. A very fine example of a Zaehnsdorf 'Exhibition' binding.
The late-Victorian poet Robert Bridges was driven to create poetry and music that moved the soul. This book is his first book of poetry; which was quickly withdrawn from circulation by Bridges, thus making it quite scare. It includes one of his most famous poems, “Elegy on a Lady Whom Grief for the Death of Her Betrothed Killed.” Bridges was still working as a doctor when this volume was published, and it marks the beginning of what would become a significant and acclaimed career. He would become poet laureate in 1917.
This is an extremely pretty Exhibition example of the Zaehnsdorf workshop's outstanding craftsmanship. The Austro-Hungarian -born, Joseph Zaehnsdorf (1816-1886) trained with binders in Stuttgart and in Vienna, before moving to Germany, Switzerland, France, and eventually settling London. He worked for various shops before opening his own bindery in 1842. In the face of industrializing production Zaehnsdorf embraced craft and eventually gained recognition for his talent. He was known for his precise finish and elegant design. The firm would continue in his son John William’s capable hands; it employed binders like Louis Genth, Roger de Coverly, and Sarah Prideaux. Family run until 1947, it was eventually acquired by Asprey of London in 1983 (Gertz). The present binding combines delicate inlay work with exuberant gilt, demonstrating the expertise of its finishes, led by Genth.
Provenance: From the library of Joseph Manuel Andreini (1850-1932), a writer and printmaker, who wrote about etched and engraved book plates as well as about Cuban postage stamps. Fine.
The late-Victorian poet Robert Bridges was driven to create poetry and music that moved the soul. This book is his first book of poetry; which was quickly withdrawn from circulation by Bridges, thus making it quite scare. It includes one of his most famous poems, “Elegy on a Lady Whom Grief for the Death of Her Betrothed Killed.” Bridges was still working as a doctor when this volume was published, and it marks the beginning of what would become a significant and acclaimed career. He would become poet laureate in 1917.
This is an extremely pretty Exhibition example of the Zaehnsdorf workshop's outstanding craftsmanship. The Austro-Hungarian -born, Joseph Zaehnsdorf (1816-1886) trained with binders in Stuttgart and in Vienna, before moving to Germany, Switzerland, France, and eventually settling London. He worked for various shops before opening his own bindery in 1842. In the face of industrializing production Zaehnsdorf embraced craft and eventually gained recognition for his talent. He was known for his precise finish and elegant design. The firm would continue in his son John William’s capable hands; it employed binders like Louis Genth, Roger de Coverly, and Sarah Prideaux. Family run until 1947, it was eventually acquired by Asprey of London in 1983 (Gertz). The present binding combines delicate inlay work with exuberant gilt, demonstrating the expertise of its finishes, led by Genth.
Provenance: From the library of Joseph Manuel Andreini (1850-1932), a writer and printmaker, who wrote about etched and engraved book plates as well as about Cuban postage stamps. Fine.