Ten Signed Original Wood Engravings: With Nine from "The Canterbury Tales" and One from "Troilus and Cresida

1928. GILL, Eric. . [Golden Cockerel Press, association]. Ten Signed Original Wood Engravings. With Nine from "The Canterbury Tales" and One from "Troilus and Cresida" [n.p. n.d. c.a. 1928-1930].

Ten original wood engravings by Eric Gill for the publication of the Golden Cockerel Press's "The Canterbury Tales" and "Troilus and Cresida." Most are two wood engravings on a single sheet, numbered and signed by Gil.

Nine sheets for "The Canterbury Tales" are uniformly matted, framed and glazed in slim gold frames. Frames measure: 14 3/4 x 11 inches; 375 x 278 mm. All are about fine. The single sheet from "Troilus and Cresida" is matted, framed and glazed in a slightly smaller slim black frame. Frame measures: 12 1/4 x 9 1/4 inches; 311 x 237 mm. Some minor toning to mat and sheet to this single one. Still about fine.

This set comprises:

1. Single sheet from page 98& 99 of "Troilus and Cresida" Girl turning into tree. [Skelton P456 and P457], on a single sheet, numbered 5/10, signed EricG. Visible image size: 190 x 130 mm. 2. First page of "The Clerk's Tale." page 113 of volume III. A Large initial "S" and a figure holding a broom in a tree. [Skelton P656], 1930, numbered 8/10, signed EricG. Visible image size: 225 x 165 mm. 3. Spray of eight leaves and four flowers [Skelton P538] & Spray of twelve triple-lobed leaves. [Skelton P538], 1928. Found first on pages 3 and 4 of volume I, and repeated again throughout. On a single sheet, numbered 9/10, signed EricG. Visible image size: 227 x 122 mm. 4. Child crawling at foot of spray [Skelton P544], 1928; & Child Peeping [Skelton P546], 1928. Found on pages 65 and 67 of volume I and repeated again throughout. On a single sheet, numbered 10/10, signed Eric G. Visible image size: 235 x 134 mm. 5. Nun blowing Kiss. [Skelton P533], 1928, & Cherub on Branch. [Skelton P534], 1928. Found first in pages 8 and 9 of volume I and repeated again throughout. On a single sheet, numbered 6/10, signed EricG. Visible image size: 220 x 130 mm. 6. Spray of eight leaves. [Skelton P521], 1928, & Naughty Boy Climbing, [Skelton P522]. Found first on pages 12 and 45 of volume I, and repeated again throughout. on a single sheet, numbered 4/10, signed EricG. Visible image size: 217 x 130 mm. 7. Tree Woman. [Skelton P517, 1928; & Spray of fifteen leaves [Skelton P518], 1928. First found on pages 34 and 35 of volume I and repeated again throughout. On a single sheet, numbered 3/10, signed EricG. Visible image size: 210 x 125 mm. 8. Man waving eight-leaved spray. [Skelton P529], 1928, & Man waving ten-leaved spray. [Skelton P530], 1928. First found on pages 26 and 27 of volume I, and repeated again throughout. On a single sheet, numbered 4/10, signed EricG. Visible image size: 225 x 130 mm. 9 & 10. [2 copies of]: St Thomas of Canterbury. [Skelton P519], 1928, & Crucifix on Tree, [Skelton P520], 1928. First found on pages 24 and 25 of volume I and repeated again throughout. On a single sheet, numbered 4/10 and 5/10, signed EricG. Visible image size: 218 x 130 mm.

"Most of the borders are leaf and stem, but among the leaves, hiding or beckoning, climbing or leaning out, are girls and men, kings and boys, priests and nuns who take part or seem to be commenting upon the stories...the pattern continues, affectionate and cheeky, erotic, enjoyable and relevant, decorative and explanatory, a balance of taste and eye. Borders are repeated, sometimes in new combinations... One other quality in these borders should be noticed- their mannerism, the distortion of human figures sometimes so that they almost share the forms of leaf and stem- and sometimes grow from them. It is another, rather touching aspect of Gill's idea and all these manners work towards a single art- the poetry, people, leaves, decoration and explanation." (Colin Franklin, The Private Presses, pp. 143-144).

Gill. Skelton.

HBS 68919.

$3,000.