Lady Godiva, by Alfred, Lord Tennyson de Tennyson, Alfred Lord - 1911

London, 1911. Sangorski, Alberto. Octavo. 8ff., + 8 blank leaves. A unique illuminated manuscript by Alberto Sangorski, who applies his signature to the certification at the colophon. At the outset is a delightful miniature exhibiting an impressive depth of field: at center is Lady Godiva depicted, as legend and artistic convention usually have it, entirely nude, and gazing up at her are various representatives of Coventry. The image has Sangorski's monogram and the date of 1911, and around it swells a finely illuminated border in burnished gold and an array of colors. Calligraphed in red and black with six large illuminated initials, several flourished borders, and both title page and first page of text with floral adornment, the latter being especially finely decorated.

Bound by Rivière & Son in an impressively finished binding of full blue morocco, with covers bearing a symmetrical design of a gilt frame with a heavily pointillé ground, black inlaid morocco rules, and interlaced strapwork. Within the frame and surrounding central panel are inlaid floral corner pieces surfeit with further pointillé and cleverly intertwined with frame strapwork. The central panel of the upper cover shows the inlaid coat-of-arms of the City of Coventry: a cat above a red and green shield with an elephant bearing a castle on its back at center, and the motto "Camera Principis" below. Spine in six compartments, two with gilt titling and remaining four with gilt panels bordered in black morocco with a gilt rule. Gilt rules to edges and gilt pointillé with strapwork to turn-ins, supporting cream silk doublures and flyleaves. Odd and very minor abrasion to morocco inlay bearing the date situated at the spine tail, endleaves starting to fray, else a fine and devotedly English example from the Sangorski-Rivière collaboration. A.e.g. Housed in a silk-lined box. (Hauck 665, Lahey 60).