Morocco Bindings

We have a large stock of 18th and 19th century beautiful leather bound books in exceptional condition.

We have specialised in just these for nearly 50 years.

  • CELEBRATED ENGLISH-ITALIAN DICTIONARY IN SPLENDID FULL MOROCCO
    A New Dictionary of the Italian and English Languages. by BARETTI (based upon that of). DAVENPORT, John and COMELATI, Gulglielmo (compiled by).
    BARETTI (based upon that of). DAVENPORT, John and COMELATI, Gulglielmo (compiled by).
    A New Dictionary of the Italian and English Languages.

    London: Longman et al.,1855. 2 volume set, 9 inches tall. Superb early Victorian full hard grain morocco binding with gilt raised bands, gilt pallets and blind fillets framing the boards. With the bookplates of Leopold de Rothschild. A very fine set .

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  • UNIQUE COPY WITH 20 WATERCOLOURS BY LAURO BOUND BY RENÉ KIEFFER
    Servitude et Grandeur Militaires. by VIGNY, Alfred de
    VIGNY, Alfred de
    Servitude et Grandeur Militaires.

    Paris: Éditions de Cluny, 1948. Full morocco, 7 inches tall. A Superb full straight grain morocco binding with the ticket of René Kieffer Reliures d'Art. The smooth spine has a a gilt olive branch device above and below title cartouche. On both boards there is a gilt embossed design incorporating a helmet and foliage. This unique copy is embellished with 20 original watercolours by Maurice Lauro illustrating scenes in the book. From the Library of the Late Christopher Foyle of Beeleigh Abbey. Original wrappers bound in. In the original French.

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  • DELIGHTFUL VOLUME IN FULL MOROCCO
    Rime e Lettere. by BUONARROTI, Michelagnolo (MICHELANGELO).
    BUONARROTI, Michelagnolo (MICHELANGELO).
    Rime e Lettere.

    Florence: G. Barbèra, 1887. Full morocco, 4 inches tall. A beautiful little binding by Zaehnsdorf, with their stamp obscured, with gilt raised bands, superb extra gilt panels ans ornate gilt corner tooling to the boards. Gilt top edge and dentelles. From the Library of the Late Christopher Foyle of Beeleigh Abbey. Portrait. Light Foxing. The poetry, letters and Life of the great Renaissance Florentine painter, sculptor and architect, in the original Italian.

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  • MAGNIFICENT SET OF THIS EXTRAORDINARY WORK IN FULL EMBOSSED MOROCCO.
    A Series of Original Portraits and Caricature Etchings. With Biographical Sketches and Illustrative Anecdotes. by KAY, John
    KAY, John
    A Series of Original Portraits and Caricature Etchings. With Biographical Sketches and Illustrative Anecdotes.

    Edinburgh: Hugh Paton, Carver and Gilder to her Majesty Queen Victoria, 1837-38. 2 volumes bound in 4, 10 1/2 inches tall. A spectacular set of the first edition of this extraordinary and hilarious works with its 329 etched plates in superb condition. In a full early Victorian hard grained embossed morocco with raised bands and very fine blind tooling to the spine and boards. Gilt dentelles and all edges. There is very slight fading to the spines and a couple of tiny scuffs, otherwise in pristine condition. There is a little offsetting from the plates and a small tear to the folding plate otherwise clean. This famous collection of portraits by the Edinburgh engraver John Kay (1742-1826) was later…

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    Edinburgh: Hugh Paton, Carver and Gilder to her Majesty Queen Victoria, 1837-38. 2 volumes bound in 4, 10 1/2 inches tall. A spectacular set of the first edition of this extraordinary and hilarious works with its 329 etched plates in superb condition. In a full early Victorian hard grained embossed morocco with raised bands and very fine blind tooling to the spine and boards. Gilt dentelles and all edges. There is very slight fading to the spines and a couple of tiny scuffs, otherwise in pristine condition. There is a little offsetting from the plates and a small tear to the folding plate otherwise clean. This famous collection of portraits by the Edinburgh engraver John Kay (1742-1826) was later reprinted in 1842 and 1877. 'Kay's caricatures provide light relief in the field of portraiture at the end of the eighteenth century. He quickly and deftly summed up the characters of those living in a very prosperous Georgian Edinburgh' (ODNB). A really nice set.

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  • SPLENDID FULL MOROCCO BEARING THE ARMS OF QUEEN VICTORIA
    The Peerage and Baronetage of The British Empire as at Present Existing. by LODGE, Edmund. (Arranged by).
    LODGE, Edmund. (Arranged by).
    The Peerage and Baronetage of The British Empire as at Present Existing.

    London: Hurst and Blackett, 1874. Full morocco, 9 3/4 inches tall. A splendid full morocco by Harrison of Pall Mall with gilt raised bands and extra gilt panels. The boards bear the arms of Queen Victoria framed within gilt fillets and a wide gilt roll. Gilt dentelles and all edges. There is some rubbing to the binding with a few tiny patches of superficial loss but no splitting of the joints. A magnificently bound work of reference illustrated with hundreds of armorial crests.

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  • UNIQUE EXTRA-ILLUSTRATED COPY IN FINE FULL MOROCCO BY ZAEHNSDORF
    Memoirs of the Pretenders and their Adherents by JESSE, John Heneage
    JESSE, John Heneage
    Memoirs of the Pretenders and their Adherents

    London: Richard Bentley, 1845. 2 volume set, 9 inches tall. A stunning set in full morocco bound by Zaehnsdorf with gilt raised bands, extra gilt panels and neat gilt tooling to the boards creating a fine panel. Gilt top edges and dentelles. From the Library of the Late Christopher Foyle of Beeleigh Abbey. Extra-illustrated with over 100 engraved portraits and views. This is the tale of the 'Great Pretender' James Francis Edward Stuart, his recognition by the French and Spanish Crown as the rightful heir to the English, Irish and Scottish thrones, his followers and eventual defeat and exile. A magnificently bound and superbly extra-illustrated unique copy in pristine condition.

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  • SCARCE DELUXE EDITION IN FULL CRUSHED MOROCCO
    The Genius of China An Exhibition of Archaeological Finds of the People's Republic of China. by WATSON, William
    WATSON, William
    The Genius of China An Exhibition of Archaeological Finds of the People's Republic of China.

    London: Times Newspapers / The Royal Academy, 1973. Full morocco, 9 3/4 inches tall. A fine binding by Zaehnsdorf with raised bands, gilt titles, design to upper board, dentelles and all edges. Rubbing to the joints and a musty aroma, otherwise a very fine copy. This is the scarce full leather deluxe edition to celebrate this great exhibition of the finds of the People's Republic of China at the Royal Academy, London from September 1973 to January 1794. Many of the 365 exhibits are illustrated in colour with the rest in black and white.

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  • SUPERB EXTRA-ILLUSTRATIONS IN GLORIOUS FULL MOROCCO BY DAVID
    Fanny Burney and her Friends. (Select Passages From Her Diary and Other Writings). by BURNEY, Frances. SEELEY, L. B. (Editor).
    BURNEY, Frances. SEELEY, L. B. (Editor).
    Fanny Burney and her Friends. (Select Passages From Her Diary and Other Writings).

    London: Seeley and Co., 1889. 2 volume set, 10 1/2 inches tall. A glorious full morocco binding by S.David in pristine condition with gilt raised bands and flamboyant and luxurious gilt tooling to the panels and boards. Equally sumptuous tooling to the blue crushed morocco doublures and all edges gilt. This set has been embellished with around 200 extra-illustrations, many being very fine and rare images, making a single volume work a 2 volume set. This set is number 126 of a large paper limited edition of 150 copies. From the Library of the Late Christopher Foyle of Beeleigh Abbey. Frances Burney, known as Fanny Burney and then, at the age of 41, Madame d'Arblay, having married the French…

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    London: Seeley and Co., 1889. 2 volume set, 10 1/2 inches tall. A glorious full morocco binding by S.David in pristine condition with gilt raised bands and flamboyant and luxurious gilt tooling to the panels and boards. Equally sumptuous tooling to the blue crushed morocco doublures and all edges gilt. This set has been embellished with around 200 extra-illustrations, many being very fine and rare images, making a single volume work a 2 volume set. This set is number 126 of a large paper limited edition of 150 copies. From the Library of the Late Christopher Foyle of Beeleigh Abbey. Frances Burney, known as Fanny Burney and then, at the age of 41, Madame d'Arblay, having married the French exile General Alexandre d'Arblay. She was the daughter of Charles Burney, English music historian, composer and musician. Frances Burney was a great English satirical novelist and diarist. She wrote her most celebrated novel, 'Evelina' in 1778 which she followed with 'Cecilia', 'Camilla' and 'The Wanderer'. Between the years 1786–1790 she was 'Keeper of the Robes' to Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, George III's queen. A wonderful set.

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  • EXCEPTIONAL AND GLORIOUS FULL MOROCCO BY RAMAGE
    Lays of the Scottish Cavaliers and Other Poems. by AYTOUN, William Edmondstoune
    AYTOUN, William Edmondstoune
    Lays of the Scottish Cavaliers and Other Poems.

    Edinburgh & London: William Blackwood and Sons, 1863. Full morocco, 10 inches tall. A fabulous full morocco by Ramage, noted for their luxurious gift and presentation bindings, with gilt raised bands and a plethora of inlays, onlays and gilt tooling. This remarkable volume is so richly decorated in coloured inlaid extra gilt morocco that the crimson ground of the binding appears at first to be merely a border. Five panels of the spine have inlaid brown morocco gilt tooled with thistles, crowns and the onlaid stars that also border the boards. The sixth panel on the spine is a turquoise blue morocco title-label, gilt. The design on both boards, has five heraldic shields, King James, Montrose and three others.…

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    Edinburgh & London: William Blackwood and Sons, 1863. Full morocco, 10 inches tall. A fabulous full morocco by Ramage, noted for their luxurious gift and presentation bindings, with gilt raised bands and a plethora of inlays, onlays and gilt tooling. This remarkable volume is so richly decorated in coloured inlaid extra gilt morocco that the crimson ground of the binding appears at first to be merely a border. Five panels of the spine have inlaid brown morocco gilt tooled with thistles, crowns and the onlaid stars that also border the boards. The sixth panel on the spine is a turquoise blue morocco title-label, gilt. The design on both boards, has five heraldic shields, King James, Montrose and three others. These shields are inlaid with various leathers and embellished with ornate gilt tooling and surmounted by fine gilt tooled crowns. The background is a large panel, of the same brown as the panels on the spine, spangled with tiny gilt tooled thistles. Wide gilt dentelles and all edges gilt. The text is the first illustrated edition of Aytoun's Lays with fine wood engravings by Dalziel, Linton, Thompson, E. Evans, Whymper and others, after the notable drawings by Noel Paton and W. H. Paton. There is some light foxing particularly on the preliminaries. From the Library of the Late Christopher Foyle of Beeleigh Abbey, and the bookplates of Thomas Gaisford (1779-1885, Dean of Christ Church, Oxford) and that of A. F. L.. A truly spectacular example of late Victorian English Book Binding.

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  • CLASSIC WORK IN FULL CRUSHED MOROCCO BY MORRELL
    The Ingoldsby Legends or Mirth and Marvels. by INGOLDSBY, Thomas [BARHAM, The Rev.]
    INGOLDSBY, Thomas [BARHAM, The Rev.]
    The Ingoldsby Legends or Mirth and Marvels.

    London: Macmillan and Co., 1906. Full crushed morocco, 7 1/2 inches tall. A very fine full crushed morocco by the great firm of Morrell with gilt raised bands, suitably macabre/comic centre tools and ornate gilding to the spine and boards. Gilt dentelles and all edges. There is a neat ink former owners name on the first blank that has partially offset. 20 superb full page steel engravings by Cruikshank, Leech and the author. A super copy of this classic comic work.

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  • EXTRA-ILLUSTRATED SET IN FULL CRUSHED MOROCCO BY TOUT
    Memories of Old Friends being Extracts from the Journals and Letters of Caroline Fox of Penjerrick, Cornwall from 1835 to 1871. by FOX, Caroline. PYM, Horace N.
    FOX, Caroline. PYM, Horace N.
    Memories of Old Friends being Extracts from the Journals and Letters of Caroline Fox of Penjerrick, Cornwall from 1835 to 1871.

    London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1882. 2 volume set, 10 1/2 inches tall. A simple but pleasing full crushed morocco binding for Sotheran by the great firm of Tout with raised bands, gilt lettering, gilt doublures and all edges. The spine has faded to a handsome brown. From the Library of the Late Christopher Foyle of Beeleigh Abbey. With over 80 extra-illustrations. As a Quaker, Caroline Fox wanted to abolish slavery and improve conditions for people in prison, she met famous politicians, artists, writers and scientists. These included Thomas Carlyle, William Wordsworth, Charles Kingsley and Michael Faraday.

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  • REMARKABLE VICTORIAN FULL MOROCCO
    Proverbial Philosophy. by TUPPER, Martin F.
    TUPPER, Martin F.
    Proverbial Philosophy.

    London: Hatchard, 1857. Full morocco, 7 1/2 inches tall. A very pleasing and remarkable Victorian full calf with raised bands and ornate gilt tooling and triple labels to the spine and calf onlays to the boards. Gilt dentelles and all edges. Portrait. From the Library of the Late Christopher Foyle of Beeleigh Abbey. The English Poet and novelist, Tupper, was one of the most read poets in the United Kingdom and North America for several decades, becoming a great favorite of Queen Victoria. After huge initial success 'Proverbial Philosophy', a volume of verse, he fell out of fashion and he never regained his great popularity. A superb Victorian binding in pristine condition.

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  • FINE REPRINT ON HAND-MADE PAPER IN SPLENDID FULL CRUSHED MOROCCO
    L'Heptaméron des Nouvelles. by NAVARRE, Marguerite de. LACROIX, Paul (Reprinted and edited by).
    NAVARRE, Marguerite de. LACROIX, Paul (Reprinted and edited by).
    L'Heptaméron des Nouvelles.

    Paris: Jouaust / Librairie des Bibliophiles, 1880. 2 volume set, 8 inches tall. A very fine full crushed morocco with gilt raised bands, delicate gilt tooling to the panels and boards. Gilt top edges. From the Library of the Late Christopher Foyle of Beeleigh Abbey. With all the original fine engravings reprinted. Following the pattern of Bocaccio's Decameron, Marguerite of Navarre intended to write 100 tales but died after completing 72, into the 8th day. Many of the stories deal with love, lust, infidelity, and other romantic and sexual matters. A very fine set of these 16th century tales in the original French.

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  • DELUXE LIMITED EDITION CLASSIC TALES IN SUPERB FULL MOROCCO
    The Novellino of Masuccio. by MASUCCIO, Salernitano
    MASUCCIO, Salernitano
    The Novellino of Masuccio.

    London: Lawrence and Bullen, 1895. 2 volume set, 11 inches tall. A superb full citron morocco by Zaehnsdorf with gilt raised bands, simple but most elegant gilt pallets to the panels and a series of gilt fillets framing the boards. Gilt dentelles and top edges, the remaining edges untrimmed. One of a deluxe limited edition of just 210 copies printed on Japanese vellum. The spines are slightly darkened but are still bright, otherwise pristine. From the Library of the Late Christopher Foyle of Beeleigh Abbey and with the bookplate of Ernest G. Mocatta, his bookplate in the second edition has been partially removed. This translation, by W.G. Waters, is the first into English. With 20 plates by E.R. Hughes.…

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    London: Lawrence and Bullen, 1895. 2 volume set, 11 inches tall. A superb full citron morocco by Zaehnsdorf with gilt raised bands, simple but most elegant gilt pallets to the panels and a series of gilt fillets framing the boards. Gilt dentelles and top edges, the remaining edges untrimmed. One of a deluxe limited edition of just 210 copies printed on Japanese vellum. The spines are slightly darkened but are still bright, otherwise pristine. From the Library of the Late Christopher Foyle of Beeleigh Abbey and with the bookplate of Ernest G. Mocatta, his bookplate in the second edition has been partially removed. This translation, by W.G. Waters, is the first into English. With 20 plates by E.R. Hughes. Masuccio Salernitano is most famous for these 50 short stories which, in 1557, were included in the first Index of Prohibited Books. One of these tales, the 33rd, 'Mariotto and Ganozza', is apparently the source material for 'Giulietta e Romeo', which is the basis for Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet'. A superb set.

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  • CLASSIC COUNTRY TALES IN FULL CRUSHED MOROCCO BY ZAEHNSDORF
    The Gamekeeper at Home. by JEFFERIES, Richard
    JEFFERIES, Richard
    The Gamekeeper at Home.

    London: Smith, Elder, & Co., 1896. Full morocco, 7 inches tall. A beautiful binding in full crushed morocco by Zaehnsdorf with gilt raised bands and superb field sport centre tools framed in the panels. The same centre tools adorn the boards around an ornate decorated panel. Gilt dentelles and all edges. Armorial bookplate. Charming frontispiece and vignettes by Charles Whymper. A fine copy of one of Jefferies works in which the great English naturalist depicts various aspects of English rural life.

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  • DELUXE LIMITED EDITION IN FULL CRUSHED MOROCCO BY ZAEHNSDORF
    The Reminiscences and Recollections of Captain Gronow being Anecdotes of the Camp, Court, Clubs, and Society 1810-1860. by GRONOW, Captain Rees Howell
    GRONOW, Captain Rees Howell
    The Reminiscences and Recollections of Captain Gronow being Anecdotes of the Camp, Court, Clubs, and Society 1810-1860.

    London: Nimmo, 1889. 2 volume set, 10 1/2 inches tall. A splendid set in full crushed morocco by Zaehnsdorf with gilt raised bands, elegant gilt fromed panels and with triple fillets framing the boards. Superb gilt dentelles and top edges gilt. Some marking to the bindings. From the Library of the Late Christopher Foyle of Beeleigh Abbey. This set is number 235 from a deluxe limited edition with the 25 plates by Joseph Grego in two states, one hand coloured. The extraordinary Captain Gronow was a dandy mixing with finest society in London and Paris, gambler, military man present at Waterloo, writer and politician. A lovely set of this fine edition.

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  • DELUXE LIMITED EDITION CLASSIC TALES IN SUPERB FULL MOROCCO
    The Nights of Straparola. by STRAPAROLA, Giovanni Francesco
    STRAPAROLA, Giovanni Francesco
    The Nights of Straparola.

    London: Lawrence and Bullen, 1894. 2 volume set, 11 inches tall. A superb full citron morocco by Zaehnsdorf with gilt raised bands, simple but most elegant gilt pallets to the panels and a series of gilt fillets framing the boards. Gilt dentelles and top edges, the remaining edges untrimmed. One of a deluxe limited edition of just 210 copies printed on Japanese vellum. The spines are slightly darkened but are still bright, otherwise pristine. From the Library of the Late Christopher Foyle of Beeleigh Abbey and with the bookplate of Ernest G. Mocatta. This translation, by W.G. Waters, is the first into English. With 20 plates by E.R. Hughes. A collector and writer of short stories, Straparola published this…

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    London: Lawrence and Bullen, 1894. 2 volume set, 11 inches tall. A superb full citron morocco by Zaehnsdorf with gilt raised bands, simple but most elegant gilt pallets to the panels and a series of gilt fillets framing the boards. Gilt dentelles and top edges, the remaining edges untrimmed. One of a deluxe limited edition of just 210 copies printed on Japanese vellum. The spines are slightly darkened but are still bright, otherwise pristine. From the Library of the Late Christopher Foyle of Beeleigh Abbey and with the bookplate of Ernest G. Mocatta. This translation, by W.G. Waters, is the first into English. With 20 plates by E.R. Hughes. A collector and writer of short stories, Straparola published this collection of stories sometimes called 'The Facetious Nights' or 'The Pleasant Nights'. This collection includes some of the first known printed versions of fairy tales in Europe. Charles Perrault and the brothers Grimm both developed some of his tales.

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  • DELIGHTFUL LITTLE EXTRA-ILLUSTRATED VOLUME IN FULL MOROCCO
    Lectures on the English Comic Writers. by HAZLITT, William
    HAZLITT, William
    Lectures on the English Comic Writers.

    London: John Templeman, 1841. Full morocco, 6 3/4 inches tall. A delightful little binding in fine full crushed morocco with gilt raised bands and delicate floral gilt tooling to the panels. All edges gilt. Triple gilt fillets and floral corner tooling frames the boards. From the Library of the Late Christopher Foyle of Beeleigh Abbey. Extra-illustrated with 52 fine engraved plates. Hazlitt is considered one of the greatest critics and essayists in the history of the English language.

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  • FINE HUMPHREYS PRINTING IN FULL RED MOROCCO
    Cleopatra. by BERNÁTH, Désiré de
    BERNÁTH, Désiré de
    Cleopatra.

    London: Arthur L. Humphreys, 1907. Full morocco, 8 1/2 inches tall. A splendid Edwardian binding in full crushed morocco with raised bands, gilt lettering, gilt dentelles and top edge. a dark mark on a couple of bands, otherwise pristine. From the Library of the Late Christopher Foyle of Beeleigh Abbey. A typically luxurious printing on hand-made paper by Humphreys. This is one of the tall scarcer titles in this great series.

    View basket More details Price: £380.00
  • PRIVATELY PRINTED LIMITED EDITION IN SUPERB FULL MOROCCO
    The Poems of Master François Villon of Paris, Now First Done into English. by VILLON, François. PAYNE, John (translated into English by).
    VILLON, François. PAYNE, John (translated into English by).
    The Poems of Master François Villon of Paris, Now First Done into English.

    London: The Villon Society, 1892. Full morocco, 9 inches tall. A rather spectacular binding by Popelin with gilt raised bands and magnificent gilt tooling to the panels and boards, splendid dentelles and top edge gilt. From the Library of the Late Christopher Foyle of Beeleigh Abbey, and with the leather bookplate of Rudolf August Witthaus. The book is solid and firm but there is a split to the top inch of leather on both boards. There is an ink inscription facing the half title. This copy is number 124 in a limited edition on hand-made paper. Privately printed 'for private circulation only' due to the scurrilous nature of Villon's verse. François Villion was a Parisian 15th century poet whose…

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    London: The Villon Society, 1892. Full morocco, 9 inches tall. A rather spectacular binding by Popelin with gilt raised bands and magnificent gilt tooling to the panels and boards, splendid dentelles and top edge gilt. From the Library of the Late Christopher Foyle of Beeleigh Abbey, and with the leather bookplate of Rudolf August Witthaus. The book is solid and firm but there is a split to the top inch of leather on both boards. There is an ink inscription facing the half title. This copy is number 124 in a limited edition on hand-made paper. Privately printed 'for private circulation only' due to the scurrilous nature of Villon's verse. François Villion was a Parisian 15th century poet whose poems are sprinkled with mysteries and hidden jokes. They are peppered with the slang of the time and the underworld subculture in which he moved and are also replete with private jokes and full of the names of real people, rich men, royal officials, lawyers, prostitutes, and policemen, from medieval Paris.

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    View basket More details Price: £450.00