* SPENSER FAERIE QUEENE WALTER CRANE 1/1000 ELIZABETH * Start Price GBP 950.00 Current Price GBP 950.00 Time Left - Bid Count 1 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Thursday, July 17, 2008 End Time Sunday, July 27, 2008 Location United Kingdom See more about '* SPENSER FAERIE QUEENE WALTER CRANE 1/1000 ELIZABETH *' Description We are embarking on a sale of family owned books and artworks in United Kingdom. You can see over 1000 excellent, 100% positive feedback on our highly rated original ID -  irix8. We look forward to building excellent feedback also on this ID - we are certain that you will enjoy your item and look forward to your continued custom!   Below is a gorgeous set of books. Six volumes. Edmund Spenser's Faerie Queene. First edition and limited edition, as illustrated by Walter Crane. Good luck! This is one of our last family treasures, and we shall miss it - we hope you will enjoy it. Book: Faerie Queene. A Poem in Six Books with the Fragment Mutabilitie, by Edmund Spenser. Superbly illustrated by Walter Crane (... and is considered his best work !....please wait for the photos to load - the book is lavishly, fantastically illustrated, which I hope our extensive photographic effort has demonstrated!!! - although still not all of the images can be shown!....much more imagery in this astonishing illustrated work ...) . This book is beautifully published in SIX VOLUMES by George Allen, Ruskin House, London, 1897. This is the limited edition, this is one of 1000 copies only. In modern white binding with gilt labelled spines and gold stamped covers, in the style of the original issued in 1897. The cover reproduces one of the Art Nouveau illustrations inside. Original wrappers bound into vol.I (...in 1897, some sets were sold by the publishers as bound, and some in paper wrappers, as was the custom of that age. ). Vol. I also contains a small cutout newsprint article, attached to top right corner of one of the free blanks. This article is the advertising for the books to be offered by John Grant, Bookseller in Edinburgh, the advertisement circa 1894-1896. The text and illustrations are printed on thick laid-type paper, similar to Arches or Fabriano. Top edge gilt (TEG), others uncut or rough-cut. Absolutely profusely illustrated with numerous full-page plates, decorative titles, chapter headings, vignettes. This is a remarkable work and is pivotal to the Arts and Crafts and Art Nouveau Movement, and is Crane's masterpiece - this work took several years to complete and remains Walter Crane's Opus Magnus. The illustrations are very sensual and very daring for late 1800s...note the female figures. In many illustrated books circa 1890s, and even in those dating later, from the 1920s, and later still, the publishers and editors chose to edit out any nudity, or even any implied nudity. This is really quite remarkable and - quite spectacular. A wonderful first edition to have, in my humble opinion these books are rather under-valued - they are absolutely beautiful, given that they are over 100 years old and are a first edition - in six volumes, and so fantastically illustrated and so beautifully printed. Book condition: Externally NR FINE. Bindings with slight rubbing or deterioration to giltwork, otherwise, excellent, as new. Top gilt edges bright. Internally, vol.I with light spotting and darkening to free blanks, and the bound-in wrapper and first few leaves primarily at margin. Beyond, typical age darkening to paper edges and slightly to paper margins, all volumes with very, very occasional very light scattered spotting, primarily at paper edges. Other volumes with occasional spotting and darkening at edge to first few paper blanks and/or slightly beyond to first few leaves, and bright beyond. Slightly age yellowed as is typical with the passage of time, but not detracting. Wonderful feel of books which are over 100 years. The above stated, overall, all contents are very bright and clean, as we hope the photographs may show. Please do see the photographs as well as the description! There are no bookplates or inscription, this set has been carefully kept and appears in unread condition, no detracting marks or handling noted at all. I have seen references to this book having been printed at the Chiswick Press, and indeed there is a note on the limitation referring to the hand-made paper - in Book I - by Charles Whitingham. We hope you will enjoy and appreciate these books for years to come! SHIPPING: We are happy to ship worldwide. We always combine shipping on multiple purchases. All of our items are carefully packaged, insured and appropriately labelled. We ship worldwide at cost by Recorded mail, DHL, FedEX, Parcelforce, and other reliable couriers. We use the method most appropriate for weight/value/date needed at destination by agreement with the high bidder. In the case of combined postage for small or light items, additional items usually require only a small increase in insurance if the value is substantially increased, i.e., shipping two flat prints or two small bowls costs a only a fraction more than one. Mainland UK  postage is approximated and stated for buyers' convenience. WITHIN UK (includes insurance, online tracking and signature, this is big and very heavy set of 6 volumes, and a limited edition, which must be well packed ) £ 37.50   CANADA/USA: (includes insurance, online tracking and signature, this is big and very heavy set of 6 volumes, and a limited edition, which must be well packed and double-boxed for safety... ) £ 85.00   Europe, Japan, Hong Kong, China, Australia, other destinations, we will ship AT COST via courier ( due to weight) or by other methods stated above as agreed with the high bidder.   CONDITIONS OF SALE: PAYMENT: Payment by Paypal, UK check/money order to our UK address, EURO check to our UK address, US/CDN check/money order to our North American address. Payment to be received within fourteen days unless otherwise agreed prior to auction end. Due to the costs of shipping to world destinations, the costs of the listings and Paypal fees, all sales are final.  We do our best to accurately describe the age, origin, manfacturer and all attributes of each and every object, however this remains our informed opinion and subject of our reserach not a guarantee. We provide the best photographs that we can and to describe the object in detail including any faults or defects could affect value or use. Please note however that many of  our items are antiques and vintages, over 100 years old, sometimes much older. Please satisfy yourself as to the item prior to auction end. If you have any specific queries, feel free to email us. We are happy to answer any questions. We always pack well, insure and keep proof of shipping/tracking numbers, hence losses and breakages are exceptionally rare. We value your business. We have many happy customers, excellent feedback and we take pride in the quality of our many beautiful and exceptional antique items and works of art and our service. We hope you enjoy your purchase and look forward to seeing you again! Happy bidding to all readers and collectors, enjoy your item! Place a Bid!