Kelmscott Press--Burne-Jones, Edward--Catterson-Smith, Robert

1) frontispiece illustration ("Help is to hand in the Wood Perilous"), ink and gouache, laid down to card, the mount with details of feet, a face and a horse's stirrup in pencil INITIALLED BY BURNE-JONES presumably to indicate the artwork has been passed for engraving, the reverse has a mounted photograph of the original Burne-Jones design for 'The Romaunt of the Rose' (see The Works of Geoffrey Chaucer, p. [253]); 2) page [116] illustration ("The Chamber of Love in the Wilderness"), ink and gouache, laid down to card, the mount with details of a foot, a hand clutching a bow and an arm in pencil INITIALLED BY BURNE-JONES presumably to indicate the artwork has been passed for engraving, the reverse with a mounted photograph of the original Burne-Jones design for 'The Romaunt of the Rose' (see The Works of Geoffrey Chaucer, p. 261); 3-4) page [116] illustration ("The Chamber of Love in the Wilderness"), photograph of the original Burne-Jones design, two pieces with one piece showing pencil grid lines for the reduction in size of the bowman; 5-7) page [116] illustration ("The Chamber of Love in the Wilderness"), three tracings in pencil or ink of the bowman showing three different reductions in size; 8) page [116] illustration ("The Chamber of Love in the Wilderness"), ink and gouache of bowman (original size), laid down to card; 9) page [286] illustration ("Friends in Need meet in the Wildwood"), photograph of the original Burne-Jones design, some spotting; 10) page [286] illustration ("Friends in Need meet in the Wildwood"), ink and gouache, laid down to card, the mount with details of feet, a face, etc. in pencil INITIALLED BY BURNE-JONES presumably to indicate the artwork has been passed for engraving, the reverse with a mounted photograph of the original Burne-Jones design for Boethius (see The Works of Geoffrey Chaucer, p. [323]); 11) page [362] ("The Last Time of the Long Champion"), ink and gouache, laid down to card, INITIALLED BY BURNE-JONES presumably to indicate the artwork has been passed for engraving, framed and glazed; each main illustration approx. 114 by 129mm., some browning and spotting (11)

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."

This lot comprises a complete set of the four illustrations from the book in the final state before engraving, together with other related material. The bowman in the second illustration caused Burne-Jones and Catterson-Smith some problems. The complete finished drawing (see item 2 above) comprises two pieces laid down to card. The original piece (with a larger bowman) is preserved as item 8. A letter from Morris to Catterson-Smith, dated 1 January 1896, reads "I have just seen the Bart [Burne-Jones] and he allows the bowman is out of scale, and thinks the best way would be for you to redraw him smaller without altering the others" (see ed. Kelvin, The Collected Letters of William Morris, IV, Princeton, NJ, 1996, p. 347).