EROS AND PSYCHE. A Poem in XII Measures
EROS AND PSYCHE. A Poem in XII Measures
EROS AND PSYCHE. A Poem in XII Measures

EROS AND PSYCHE. A Poem in XII Measures

(Newtown, Montgomeryshire: The Gregynog Press, 1935).

ONE OF THE GREGYNOG PRESS' MOST BEAUTIFUL PRODUCTIONS. The woodcuts were made from Burne-Jones' pencil drawings and were cut at the Ruskin Drawing School of Oxford. Burne-Jones was a highly respected painter and stained glass artist, who studied under the tutelage of Dante Gabriel Rossetti. His illustrations also grace the greatest landmark of the Private Press Movement; the Kelmscott Press Chaucer. The illustrations for this work were all previously unpublished drawings found within some papers at the Ruskin School and then cut by Loyd Haberly and R.J. Beedham.
The drawings had been originally made for William Morris' narrative poem, Cupid, but had not been used in that earlier publication. For this work Poet Laureate Robert Bridges' narrative poem with strong romantic and tragic themes is used instead. Bridges' Eros and Psyche retells the Cupid and Psyche myth first recorded by Lucius Apuleius in his book The Golden Ass. He received great critical acclaim for it; Coventry Patmore was of the opinion that Bridge's version would become the standard form of the Apuleius myth. Of this he was largely correct until the publication of Robert Graves' version appeared in 1951. Item #29716

First Printing of the Gregynog Press Edition, LIMITED TO ONLY 300 COPIES. With 24 beautiful woodcut engravings from designs by Edward Burne-Jones and initials in three colors all throughout designed by Graily Hewitt. And with Hewitt's designed typeface, which was used only for this one Gregynog volume. Folio, in the original gilt stamped cream pigskin featuring a large circular central gilt device on the upper cover, the spine with gilt trimmed flat bands and gilt lettering, now with an attractive clamshell box. 141pp. The very fine and attractive soft pigskin with a few spots of age as is normal on an otherwise pristine and perfect copy.

Price: $2,450.00