Commune

1845 · 13060 — ILLUMINATED THROUGHOUT BY OWEN JONES - IN A HANDSOME RED MOROCCO BINDING ALSO PROBABLY DESIGNED BY JONES <br />first edition thus large 8vo. 24.8 x 17 cms. xl 504 2 451-484 notespp. with the text on every page enclosed inside a very great variety changing every few pages of decorative borders which are printed in colours very often two and including red blue green mauve yellow and black numerous large decorative initial letters printed in colours ornaments some printed in colours all these decorations designed by Owen Jones 12 plates of which 8 are divisional title-pages chromolithographed in gold and colours by Owen Jones 3 engravings by J. C. Horsley 1 by Henry Warren 37 line engravings drawn from old master paintings by George Scharf jnr. under ther superintendence of Lewis Gruner final section of notes which has aberrant pagination with a simple parallel red and black line border elaborate publisher's binding of full rich morocco over very thick bevelled boards sides blocked with an elaborate border probably designed by Owen Jones and a central device composed of the interlaced letters I.H.S. smooth spine elaborately gilt decorated and lettered inner fold-ins and board edges gilt decorated all edges gilt neatly recased retaining the original pale blue glazed endpapers some trivial local foxing but a fine and most handsome copy. Preserved in a new marbled slipcase. <br /><br />R. McLean <i>Victorian Book Design</i> 1972 pp.88-90.<br />Owen Jones 1809-1874 architect and designer was interested in historical ornament as an inspiration for modern design and striving to determine universal principles of design studied both oriental and western arts. In this work Jones clearly echoed the hand-illuminated work of medieval breviaries psalters and books of hours. "The book was well printed by Vizetelly Brothers and must have been a considerable undertaking since it consisted of over 500 pages all printed in two or three colours" McLean. The complex wood-engraved borders were in widely varying styles and were printed in black blue and red combined or in such single colours as yellow green lilac blue red or brown. Additionally there were eight strikingly printed illuminated divisional 'title pages' chromolithographed in gold red blue and green. Additionally there are full-page woodcut plates by John C. Horsley and Henry Warren with engraved borders and a tint over the print. and 37 wood engravings after Raphael and others throughout the text. The result was "one of the most important examples of Owen's commercial decoration" McLean.The book was initially issued in eight parts and was later republished in 1850 and in 1863 in fewer colours and without the chromolithographed 'title pages'. The work is also "of great interest in tracing the work done by Baxter's apprentices" Lewis. Jones had his own press and with his co-worker H. N. Humphreys "developed several totally new binding styles using materials such as papier mâché terracotta and embossed leather which were more fitted to the sumptuous contents" O.D.N.B. It is likely that the binding of this copy was designed by Jones even if not created in his workshop.<br />C. T. Courtney Lewis <i>The Story of Picture Printing in England during the XIXth Century</i> 1928 p.63. John Murray [printed by Vizetelly Brothers and Co.] hardcover