[Fine Binding | Douglas Cockerell | Author's Proof Copy w/ Letters] Dante Gabriel Rossetti

Marillier, H.C. Dante Gabriel Rossetti.  George Bell & Sons, 1899. First edition. The author's proof copy, with unlettered plates--noted as such by Marillier in pen on the ffep. (Further details below.)  Photogravure frontispiece portrait of Rossetti after Frederick Hollyer, and 99 further plates, one being double-page; thirty of which are photogravures on Japan vellum. 

Bound in full light brown crushed morocco by Douglas Cockerell with covers split into panels by gilt rules that include DGR's date of birth (1828) in intertwining circular ornaments at the corners of the front cover, and death (1882) on the rear cover. The central design on the front cover features a delicate wreath design, built up with gilt rosettes and green inlaid leaves, with a cartouche of Dante Gabriel Rossetti's monogram at its heart. The rear panel includes the initials of the author, which is not present on the other versions of this binding. Spine features the title and author to second and third compartments, with floral decoration in gilt to remaining five compartments. All edges gilt. Gilt-ruled turn-ins with grey endpapers. Cockerell's monogram and the date on the rear lower turn-in. Includes the bookplate of the author ("...Kelmscott House, Hammersmith") along with an additional bookplate of Gerhard Jensen. Laurence Housman's designs for the cover and spine of the trade edition have been bound in. Measures approx. 9.25" x 13.5". Foxing to pages. Some light rubbing and spots to covers, corners bumped, but overall, an excellent copy. 

With this being a proof copy, several of the photogravure plates contain a pencil notation of their title, several have printed titles, but most are blank. The author has added notes in the margins on several pages of the text, in addition to extensive notes in the Appendix relating to the sales and buyers of DGR's works listed there. Bound in at the rear is an article Marillier wrote for The Art Journal, entitled "The Salutations of Beatrice: As Treated Pictorially by D.G. Rossetti". Following this are three copies of the prospectus/order form for this volume, noting that "a limited number of these will be issued as subscription copies in a handsome binding of inlaid African leather designed and executed specially by Douglas Cockerell". The final supplements are two positive reviews of the present title, one from The Art Journal, the other from The Magazine of Art, written by William M. Rossetti.

Loosely inserted are multiple letters addressed to the author recounting Rossetti works. Included:

-A letter from William M. Rossetti (DGR's brother, and reviewer of the volume for The Magazine of Art), dated 1904, regarding multiple works by DGR and their provenance.

-Two letters from noted Pre-Raphaelite collector Cecil French, dated 1933 and 1935, regarding a wide array of Rossetti works, his thoughts on them, and his efforts to obtain them.

-The University Galleries in Oxford, dated 1906, mentioning six works by Rossetti, signed by Alex MacDonald.

-City of Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, dated 1906, mentioning three works by Rossetti, signed by Whitworth Wallis.

-Gowans & Gray, dated 1911, mentioning the ownership of a few DGR work, signed "AG".

-A list of the stained glass windows at Harden Grange, written out by Noel Hanbury, including the titles and artists (Rossetti, Edward Burne-Jones, William Morris, etc.)

A superlative copy of this work.