POEMS OF SHELLEY

London: Macmillan and Co, 1922. 156 x 105 mm. (6 1/8 x 4 1/8"). lxvi, [II], 340 pp.Selected and arranged by Stopford A. Brooke.
Attractive contemporary moss green morocco, gilt in the style of Roger Payne, covers with double gilt-rule frame, floral cornerpieces, raised bands, spine panels densely gilt, with multiple floral tools emanating from a central rosette, gilt titling, turn-ins ruled in gilt with floral cornerpieces like those on the covers, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. Engraved vignette of Shelley's home on title page. ◆Spine lightly sunned (as always with green leather), free endpapers with faint offsetting from turn-ins, otherwise A VERY FINE COPY, with virtually no signs of use.

This is a handsomely bound copy of a thoughtfully selected collection of Shelley's verse. Editor Stopford Brooke (1832-1916) was a prominent preacher and literary critic who wished to induce his audience, via these carefully chosen representative poems, to read the whole of the poet's canon. The works have been arranged by topic, grouping together poems on death, liberty, love, nature, and time. Our volume features a charming exterior, which, though unsigned, was clearly influenced by the work of 18th century binder Roger Payne. Like the great English master, our binder uses small floral tools to build complex designs. The lily tools here are especially similar to those used by Payne. Our unknown binder was gifted and had no doubt trained in one of the leading London workshops..