THE THOUGHTS OF THE EMPEROR MARCUS AURELIUS ANTONINUS

London: Philip Lee Warner, Publisher to the Medici Society [for the Riccardi Press], 1909. No. 107 OF 500 COPIES on handmade paper (and 17 on vellum). 268 x 197 mm. (10 1/2 x 7 3/4"). 4 p.l., 108 pp, [1] leaf (colophon).Translated by George Long.
Attractive tan morocco by Sangorski & Sutcliffe (stamp-signed on front turn-in), covers with gilt- and blind-ruled border, gilt arabesque at center, raised bands with blind-tooled fleurettes extending onto covers, spine compartments with various gilt Roman symbols at center, gilt lettering, gilt-ruled turn-ins, patterned endpapers, top edge gilt. In (slightly worn) matching patterned paper slipcase. Riccardi device in blue on half title and title, 12 MOUNTED COLOR PLATES BY W. RUSSELL FLINT printed on paper and bound at the end, each with tissue overlay printed in red. Tomkinson, p. 148. ◆Spine gently sunned, one neatly repaired marginal tear, but a nearly perfect copy--the text clean, fresh, and bright, and the binding unworn.

This is an extremely attractive copy of one of the series of luxury editions Flint produced for the Riccardi Press of the Medici Society between 1905-24, a series Houfe calls "brilliant." Flint's figures, says Houfe, "are finely modeled and contain elements of a Burne-Jones influence by way of Byam Shaw." One of the leading illustrators of his day, Sir William Russell Flint (1880-1969) was especially known for his seductive nudes; impressively, he managed to find a home for his favorite subjects in this collection of pensées by the Stoic philosopher-emperor. Although Riccardi Press books do not rank with Kelmscotts or Ashendenes, those with plates after Flint have a very substantial appeal. The binding by Sangorski & Sutcliffe was done for New York bookseller G. P. Putnam & Company, and it adds a luxurious touch to the production..