< Back

Tennyson, Alfred Lord. [Smyth, Dorothy Carlton, artist].
Superb “Vellucent” binding in green vellum by Cedric Chivers of Bath. The Works of Alfred Lord Tennyson Poet Laureate.
Publisher: Macmillan and Co, London;
Date of Publication: 1898
Stock Code: 5857
FIRST THUS. Octavo, pp viii, 900, [4] Song Index and publishers catalogue. Tissue-guarded engraved portrait frontispiece by George Stodart from a photograph by J Mayall. Full transparent vellum over light green paper-covered boards, by Cedric Chivers of Bath. Covers decorated with unified design comprising pen-and-ink and watercolour drawings by Dorothy Carlton Smyth: the upper board depicts “King Arthur Pendragon” with gilt caption facing left, kneeling holding his sword Excalibur against a background of Art Noveau flowers with gilt stamens; the lower board depicts “Guinevere His Queen” with gilt caption, kneeling facing right holding a Book of Hours, also with Art Nouveau flowers with gilt stamens as backdrop. The figures face each other divided by the spine, containing a white panel with gilt titles and border above a flower design. Double gilt fillet to 3 sides of each board and crossing spine; aeg. Double gilt fillet to dentelles; marbled endpapers. An unusually bright and well preserved copy. Corners and top edge lightly bruised; minor scuffs to gilt edge. Ownership inscription in ink to verso ffep; minor nick to lower edge of Index to Songs (text unaffected). Binder’s blind-stamp to rear endpaper. The Chivers “Vellucent” binding was a development of Edwards of Halifax’s original 18th century patent for durable decorated painted vellum bindings, with the difference that Chivers painted the paper under the vellum while Edwards painted the underside of the vellum itself. About 40 women were employed at the Chivers bindery in Bath, with only 5 working on the design, illumination and colour; the woman most frequently employed and trusted with this kind of work was Dorothy Carlton Smyth. Sold