[The Craftsman's Guild | Illuminated] The Perfect Woman

The Perfect Woman: Being the Thirty-first Chapter of Proverbs Beginning With the Eleventh Verse. Boston: Printed for the The Craftsman’s Guild by Earle H. Heintzemann at the Heintzemann Press, 1900. Limited to 310 copies on handmade paper and 50 copies on Japan paper, of which this is #27 of the handmade paper edition. Signed by the illuminator, Emilie Marthecia Whitten. Printed on double leaves, hand lettered by Cora June Cady, and with striking illumination by Whitten within initials, small vignettes and ornaments. The colophon reads in full: “This book was hand lettered and decorated by Cora June Cady and illuminated by Emilie Marthecia Whitten for THE CRAFTSMAN’S GUILD. There are editions of 310 copies on hand-made paper and 50 copies on Japan paper. This is copy number 27 / Emilie M. Whitten”. Paper covered boards with linen spine, lettering and decoration in black to front cover. Measures 4.5" x 7". Some discoloration and light spotting, primarily to front cover, and light browning to linen spine.

"The Craftsman's Guild, which flourished briefly at the turn-of-the-century, was...dedicated to 'the revival of the early book and missal illuminating of the monastic period.' Established by William Osgood Grover at 21 Cornhill, the Guild strove to produce books that would 'represent a personality and show the loving care of an artist's hand, where every detail would reveal the beauty of the human touch'" (Artists of the Book in Boston, 1890-1910).

A beautiful and rarely found example of Boston Arts & Crafts bookmaking, and unquestionably showcasing the "personality" and "loving care" of Cady and Whitten's artistry.