The Prologue To The Canterbury Tales

The First UK printing published by Editions Alecto, London in 1967. Elephant Folio. With frontis and fourteen mask images, each are titled and initialed by the artist in pencil printed silk screen and letter-press in 24 pt Plantin. Number 65' of an edition of only 125 signed copies. The 15 proofs (50 x 37cm) were issued as 15 unbound, four page sections on Barcham Green rag-made housed within a paper wraparound folder. The whole housed within a blue cloth folder with silver titling and the original publisher s canvas slip-case. (There were also separate editions of 50 plus 5 proofs made of all the images except Friar & Franklin ). All the screen-prints are present and in excellent condition. The spine of the portfolio is faded. The slipcase is very good condition. The Prologue is held in important public and private collections world-wide. There was also a later (second) edition, published 11years later by The Circle Press. The first edition of 1967 was begun by Editions Alecto, but following difficulties Ronald King took over publication himself and it became the first book of his 'Circle Press'. The Second Edition of 5000 copies (twenty groups of 250 copies each, with a single different loose print in a folder accompanying each group) was issued in 1978. Extremely scarce to find complete as this the first edition. More images available on request. Ashton Rare Books welcomes direct contact.