Gutch, John Mathew (Editor); Lewis, Oscar (Note); Angelo, Valenti (Illustrations)

A Lytell Geste of Robyn Hode and His Meiny [Robin Hood]

San Francisco: [The Westgate Press, printed by The Grabhorn Press], 1932. Angelo, Valenti. Limited Edition. Hardcover. One of 255 copies, small octavo size, 110 pp. Near Fine. Item #26110621

We all know the story of Robin Hood; this edition (per the title page) is "Reprinted from the edition edited by John Mathew Gutch following the Wynkende Worde and William Copland texts". As Oscar Lewis says in the preface: "...the Robin Hood ballads are much more than curious survivals of an age when the language was young and plastic. Their chief interest is not that of literary curiosities. It lies rather in their sharply outlined picture of the times that produced them; a picture no less real because the language is archaic and the sense often charmingly naive..."

Printed by Edwin and Robert Grabhorn, the incredibly talented and highly regarded Grabhorn Press which dominated the printing world for much of the first part of the twentieth century.

Illustrations by Valenti Angelo (1897-1982), a well-known designer, illuminator and decorator of books over a career that spanned decades. He did much of his early work for the Grabhorn Press and the Book Club of California, in addition to printing his own books in extremely limited editions under the imprints of "The Golden Cross Press" and "The Press of Valenti Angelo".

___DESCRIPTION: Tan quarter leather over decorated paper boards, debossed lettering and three raised bands on the spine, fore- and bottom edges rough-cut, illustrated title page in red and black with the illustrated border in colour, preface ("A Note") by Oscar Lewis, the opening lines of each section in red, eighteen colour illustrations by Valenti Angelo scattered throughout the text, limited edition of 255 copies (plus twenty-five special copies); handset Koch Bibel Gotisch on Van Gelder paper, small octavo (7 3/4" by 5"), pagination: [i-viii] [1] 2-102.

___CONDITION: Near fine overall; the leather spine smooth and supple, a strong, square text block with solid hinges, the interior is clean and bright, and free of prior owner markings; some light wear to the corners and offsetting to the front pastedown with corresponding offesetting to the front free endpaper, apparently the result of an old Ex-Libris which has since been lost.

___CITATION: Grabhorn Bibliography no. 157; "Valenti Angelo: Author, Illustrator, Printer" p. 53.

___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: $350.00