- 113
Morris, William
Estimate
7,000 - 9,000 GBP
bidding is closed
Description
- Morris, William
- The Story of Sigurd the Volsung, and the Fall of the Niblungs. Ellis and White, 1877 [1876]
- Paper
8vo, FIRST EDITION, ONE OF TWENTY-FIVE COPIES ON WHATMAN PAPER, PRESENTATION COPY INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR TO EDWARD BURNE-JONES ("Edward Burne Jones | from WM | Dec: 3rd. 1876") on half-title, original paper-backed grey boards, remnants of printed lettering piece on spine, collector's folding black morocco-backed box, some occasional spotting, professionally recased with new spine, front free endpaper becoming loose
Provenance
Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones (1833-1989) (inscription); Sir Hugh Walpole (1884-1941) (bookplate)
Literature
Buxton-Forman 43 (see note on p. 88)
Condition
Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
Catalogue Note
A SIGNIFICANT ASSOCIATION COPY OF THE WORK MORRIS CONSIDERED HIS "MASTERPIECE" (see A Note by William Morris, London, 1898, p. 57).
The Story of Sigurd the Volsung would later become one of Burne-Jones' long-standing artistic projects: a Kelmscott Press edition was in development by the end of 1891 but Burne-Jones only agreed to illustrate "with great reluctance", according to Peterson. In 1896 Burne-Jones complained "...Terribly the tragedy of it is, and the fine things in it are so much fitter for literature than for my art, and I've no turn for the dramatic" (see Peterson, A Bibliography of The Kelmscott Press, Oxford, 1984, p. 135). After Morris' death the Kelmscott edition was published in 1898 with only two illustrations by Burne-Jones.