[Chemith Press | Illuminated | Mary Moulton Cheney] A Fragment of the Poem Symbolism

Realf, Richard. A Fragment of the Poem Symbolism. Minneapolis: Chemith Press, 1906 [1908]. Limited to 200 copies, of which this is #157. Signed by Cheney on the limitation page, upon which she has noted this as the "Second edition 1908". So noted on the colophone: "These lines were designed, lettered and illuminated at the studio of Mary Moulton Cheney. Printed on a hand press: the Chemith Press". Printed on the rectos of ten double leaves of rice paper. All initials and decorative elements colored by hand, with accents of metallic gold paint. Original card covers with hand colored paper label to front and pink silk ribbon ties intact. String bound. Measures approx. 5.25" x 8.25". Some soiling and minor creasing to covers, light browning to pages. 

Mary Moulton Cheney is a highly regarded figure in the arts & crafts movement in Minnesota, and “seems to have served as founder, leader, or both, for almost every early arts organization in Minneapolis, as well as the Minnesota State Art Society” (Wikipedia).

"Cheney owned and operated a printmaking shop, The Artcraft Shop: Sign of the Bay Tree, from 1897 to 1917. With the help of Mary Marsh Smith, who did the bookkeeping for the shop, she produced richly detailed and delicately colored hand-bound books, book plates, greeting cards, calendars, and other printed material. She and Smith also published fine press books in the same shop as the Chemith Press, beginning in 1902" (Hennepin County Library).

WorldCat notes a single institutional holding (Minnesota Historical Society).