Binding, Fine - Clara Rice, Guild of Arts & Crafts of California) Poems

Boston and New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1887. RARE and outstanding example of West Coast American Arts & Crafts bookbinding by Clara Rice ( her initials bottom of front cover). Bound in full crushed green morocco, five raised bands, gilt lettering spine and front cover, front cover image of two trees with initials CR bottom of left tree, moire silk end papers, top edge gilt. Period bookplate of Charles Ernest Green front pastedown. Gift inscription pasted on card stock front flyleaf reads: " Christmas Greetings to C.E.G. This binding is by Clara Rice and is a fine sample of her work. The book has been on exhibition at the Arts & Crafts Guild. R.J.D.". No Date to inscription, circa 1903. The San Francisco Call newspaper shows an article dated Dec. 12. 1903 tha is titled "Guild of Arts & Crafts opens Unique exhibition" and further states "Miss Clara Rice, Secretary. Her mosaic leather work in book-binding is much admired". And the Bulletin of the Dept. of Labor, Vol. 9, issues 54-56, shows " Guild of Arts & Crafts of California, Miss Clara Rice, Secretary, 639 Kearney St., San Francisco". Very Good, front cover and spine uniformly lighter than rear cover, top corner front cover small bump. Originally started in 1894, the first run of the Guild of Arts & Crafts in San Francisco lasted until some time in 1897. Douglas van Denburgh launched the second Guild of Arts & Crafts in San Francisco in 1903, and that group lasted at least through 1910. And the poet Edward Rowland Sill was principal of Oakland High School, California and professor of English literature at the University of California during the period 1874 - 1882. He died at the age of 46 in 1887, a minor American poet of high quality who but for his early death may have gained a higher place. A uniquely San Francisco book from the height of the Arts & Crafts movement in California and in America.. Later Printing. Morocco. Very Good/No Jacket, As Issued. 12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall.