KELMSCOTT PRESS. ~ Syr Perecyvelle of Gales.
One of 350 copies printed paper, (a further 8 copies were printed on vellum). Wood engraved frontispiece designed by Edward Burne-Jones with border by Morris. Borders, half borders, and 140 three- and ten-line initials, all by William Morris, engraved on wood by W.H. Hooper et al, the initial letters then being electroplated, woodcut press device on colophon, leaf paragraph marks. Printed in red and black in Chaucer type on hand-made Batchelor Flower paper. 8vo., original quarter holland (linen backed blue paper covered boards), title printed in black on the upper cover. A very good copy.
Like Sire Degrevaunt and Syr Ysambrace, Syr Perecyvelle was edited by F.S. Ellis from the text of 'The Thornton Romances: The Early English Romances of Perceval, Isumbras, Eglamour, and Degravant' by James Halliwell (1844) which according to Cockerell was 'a favourite with Mr. Morris from his Oxford Days'. Sir Perceval's story was a medieval Classic and appears in several medieval manuscripts as well as being referred to by Chaucer.