[Will Bradley] Fringilla or Tales in Verse

Blackmore, Richard Doddridge. Fringilla, Or, Tales in Verse; With Sundry Decorative Picturings by Will H. Bradley. Cleveland: Burrows Brothers, 1895. Limited to 600 copies, of which this is #28. Printed by John Wilson & Son at the University Press on handmade Ruisdael paper. Set in Jenson type, and printed in red and black, with 10 plates, 25 decorative borders, 16 initials and a title page, all designed by Bradley. Blue-grey decorated paper-covered boards with tan cloth spine and title, author, and publisher in gilt. Pastedowns decorated with light green illustration to edges. Measures approx. 6.5" x 9". Some light browning and rubbing to covers, corners bumped, and foxing to text block.

"In January 1896, Burrows Brothers issued the [Will] Bradley production 'Fringilla', its design a masterly synthesis of Beardsley, Ricketts, and William Morris ideals. His stylistic unity reached a new level of mature individuality with that work" (Bambace).

"This is a brilliant book, more ambitious and successful than 'When Hearts Are Trumps', with strong Arts and Crafts details. The double-spread title-page is within Kelmscott-style borders. The opening pages of the sections have borders and matching initials, showing a strong Morte D'Arthur influence" (Thompson).