The Canterbury Tale of the Miller
San Francisco: Lawton R. Kennedy, Harold N. Seeger, and Albert A. Sperisen [The Black Vine Press], 1939. First Edition. Hardcover. The first edition published by The Black Vine Press, small quarto size, 31 pp., inscribed by Lawton Kennedy. Near fine. Item #260827010
A "very free translation of 'The Miller's Tale'...all critics are warned that nothing else is intended" begins the Introduction to this charming book.
While the colophon lists the printers individually by name, the are included under their imprint, "The Black Vine Press", in David Magee's 1961 publication "Fine Printing and Bookbinding From San Francisco and Its Environs" (a Grolier Club exhibition) with this title listed. In it Magee comments: "[t]he book has a curious history. The publishers, fearing that this, their first child, might indicate to the public that they were intending to issue only such bawdy tales, withdrew the edition before publication and destroyed it. Only a handful escaped." This may very well be true, for as of this writing we see no other copies online.
This copy inscribed by Lawton Kennedy at the colophon thus: "For Will Cameron / who also like a / robust story. / Lawton Kennedy".
___DESCRIPTION: Grey laid paper over boards with a leather shelfback, the front board with ruled borders and the outline of a figure all in blind, gilt lettering on the spine, title page in red and black with a small drawing, sectional titles in red, text with a chapter headpiece and tailpiece, two four-line initial capitals in red; binding small quarto size (9 3/4" by 6 1/2"), pagination: [i-vi] [1] 2-24 [1, colophon].
___CONDITION: Near fine overall, with clean boards, perfectly straight corners without rubbing (other than a minute spot at the top front corner), a strong, square text block with solid hinges, the interior is clean and bright, and entirely free of prior owner markings; the leather shelfback is smooth and supple but does have a few marks.
___CITATION: Magee, "Fine Printing and Bookbinding From San Francisco", no. 51.
___POSTAGE: International customers, please note the following: (i) additional postage may apply as the standard does not always cover costs, please inquire for details; and (ii) any taxes, duty, or tariffs charged by your country will, of necessity, be your responsibility.
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Price: $300.00