Vellucent binding by Chivers

One of 100 copies on handmade paper of this English epic poem, first published in 1590, signed by the illustrator.

Following a lecture by Cyril Davenport of the British Museum on the 18th century painted vellum bindings of Edwards of Halifax, Cedric Chivers created his own 'Vellucent' bindings using established artists such as Jessie M. King, Alice Shepherd, and H. Granville Fell. In its prime, the company experimented and specialised in highly skilled and beautiful bindings; this example being one of them.

Chivers was born in Bath to a bookbinding family. After working for his father and various other binders, he opened his own business in 1878, in the premises formerly occupied by Robert Rivière in Union Street, Bath. He subsequently moved to a double fronted shop at 39 Gay Street and then, as the business expanded, to a large house at Portway in Combe Park where the company operated until 1990.

Limited edition of 100 copies printed on handmade paper, each one signed by the illustrator underneath the printed colophon at the rear; ' This book is bound and decorated and colour by Cedric Chivers, designed by', followed by ink manuscript asterisk since not a large enough space for signature, hence below; 3 vols, 4to (265 x 210 mm); half–titles, titles printed in red and black with woodcut borders, 26 woodcut illustrations (several double–page), decorative headpieces, initials, and tailpieces by Fairfax–Muckley, a few text leaves still uncut, age-toning to text blocks, more evident to edges, some tissue-guards a bit foxed with resultant offsetting, generally the odd random mark or spotting but mostly to the blank margins except for a stain to lower edge of illustrated leaves facing pp 576 & 682 in vol. III, otherwise very good; original full vellucant vellum by Cedric Chivers of Bath (printed colophon to each vol.), the upper cover with a hand-painted scene of an Arthurian Knight and a lady (possibly the Red Cross Knight and his lady Una), both on horse-back, galloping, within a heart-shaper frond, gilt title-panel, all within and armourial boarder, the spines painted with an Authurian lady holding a lamp aloft. the rear boards painted with a large roundel of a stylised dragon, each vol. in a variant colourway, top edge gilt, others trimmed, as published, age-toned with minor soiling, mostly to rear boards, otherwise very good-plus, a stunning set.