[Morris, William]--Catterson-Smith, Robert

[Morris] 1) "Empty" design, ink and gouache drawing, 64 by 64mm. [together with] 2) "Whilom" design, ink and gouache drawing, 63 by 63mm. both on single leaf; 3) "Empty", proof printing, single leaf--[Catterson-Smith] 4-19) Group of sixteen drawings, ink and gouache drawings, 60 by 75mm. (average), all mounted, framed and glazed in two frames; together with a copy of Catalogue of the Books in the Library at the Assay office, Birmingham. London: Chiswick Press, 1914, original quarter morocco, some spotting and browning, some wear (5)

The first two items are on a single sheet of heavy paper with a note by Catterson-Smith that the designs by William Morris were "about the last he drew". "Empty" appears on page 90 of The Water of the Wondrous Isles and "Whilom" on page 1. The sheet includes a note by Cockerell "For Mr Keates | Oct. 22nd 1896" (C.E. Keates engraved some work for the Kelmscott Press and this was presumably given as a keepsake of Morris).

The sixteen drawings, by Robert Catterson-Smith were decorations to enclose initial letters and published within the Catalogue of the Books in the Library at the Assay office, Birmingham, published in 1914. Designs for letters A, B, C, D, E, G, H, I, L, M, O, T, V, W, X and Y are mounted, framed and glazed. The artist is credited as the "Director of the Central Municipal School of Art of this city".