The Kelmscott Chaucer (Archived)

About This Exhibit:

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William Morris (1834–1896), poet, social reformer, and a leading figure in the Pre–Raphaelite movement, founded the Kelmscott Press in 1891. William Morris’ work had an enormous and beneficial effect on the printers of his time. He led the way back to using unified typography, and he reinstated the book illustrated by one artist and conforming to an overall design.

The Kelmscott Chaucer was printed in two columns on handmade paper with specially designed large Gothic type in red and black, with 87 woodcut illustrations and 116 full–page plates after designs by Sir Edward Burne–Jones, and numerous woodcut borders and initial letters designed for this work by William Morris.

This single case exhibition was originally on display in the Morris Library Information Room from June 1-June 2, 2012.

Tags: Morris, William, 1834-1896; Kelmscott Press