Sire Degrevaunt

London/Hammersmith: Kelmscott Press, 1897. Limited First Edition. hardcover. Very Good. 8 5/16" × 5 5/8" × 1/2" (21.1 × 14.3 × 1.3 cm) . Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones. First Printing. Edited by Ellis, Frederick Startridge, after the edition printed by J. 0. Halliwell, from the Cambridge manuscript, with some additions and variations from the THORNTON ROMANCES manuscript, in the Library of Lincoln Cathedral. Illustrated by Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones. Printed by and sold by William Morris. 8vo. Bound in publisher's original hardcover quarter Holland-backed blue paper boards, with white linen spine and black titles to cover. One of 350 [at fifteen shillings] paper copies (plus 8 [at four guineas] on vellum). Printed on fine, hand-made, Batchelor (with the second version of the Primrose watermark) paper. Uncut, deckled edges. Colophon and the smaller, rectangular printer's device designed by Morris (no. 1). 81 [1] pp. Printed in black and red throughout in the Chaucer type designed by Morris for his press. Dated March 14, 1896, issued Nov. 12, 1897, as the frontispiece by Burne-Jones was not completed until October, 1897, and issued in November of that year. Woodcut frontispiece after Edward Coley Burne-Jones, within a floral border, and facing page with full woodcut floral page-border (borders 1a and 1). Border 1a was engraved for SONNETS AND LYRICAL POEMS BY DANTE GABRIELLA ROSSETTI as a pair to the first of the 8vo borders used in the first, second, fourth and later publications of the press. One 12-line initial, one 6-line, and numerous 3-line woodblock initial capitals all designed by Morris, engraved by William Harcourt Hooper.One of a series of three medieval metrical romances chosen by Morris to be printed at his Kelmscott Press, along with SYR YSAMBRACE and SYR PERECYVELLE.Sidney Cockerell wrote: "This book, subjects from which were painted by Sir Edward Burne-Jones on the walls of The Red House, Upton, Bexley Heath, many years ago, was always a favourite with Mr. Morris." [Peterson A47. Tomkinson 47, Cockerell 55.]Dated March 14, 1896, issued Nov. 12, 1897, as the frontispiece by Burne-Jones was not completed until October, 1897, and issued in November of that year. Somewhat rubbed and slightly bumped. Condition overall: Very Good.