[Fine Binding | Arts & Crafts] The Imitation of Christ

Kempis, Thomas A. The Imitation of Christ. London: Chapman & Hall, [1910]. Engraved frontispiece of the author. Part of "The Books of the Verulam Club" series.

Full black morocco tooled in Arts & Crafts style, with the cover laid out as a frame, with a border of linked rectangular units in double gilt lines surrounding a broad central panel, dominated by a tall gilt cross formed of triple fillets with cusped terminals. At the center of the cross are four small interlaced ovals & borders with inlays in red, purple, green, and gold, providing a beautiful "stained glass" effect. Five bands to spine with author to second compartment and remaining compartments with a gouged interlaced ring knot design with small dotted accents. Wide turn-ins, gilt-tooled with a continuous gouged strapwork border, the field worked with an elongated chain of linked ovals and small knots at intervals, with the four corners finished with a similar inlaid oval & border design (in purple, red, green, and gold/yellow). Olive mottled endpapers, all edges gilt. Measures approx. 5.5" x 7.5".

Some light rubbing to edges and some minor spotting to the boards. Spine a touch faded. Some of the leather grain appears to have been overly "flattened" in a few different areas on the boards and turn-ins, likely by the binder in the process of forwarding the volume. A bit of foxing to the front and rear of the text.