Home / Browse / English literature pre-1900 / Illuminated manuscript A Dream of Fair Women.
(SANGORSKI & SUTCLIFFE) TENNYSON, Alfred, Lord.
Illuminated manuscript A Dream of Fair Women.
The prestigious London bindery Sangorski and Sutcliffe made a speciality of fabulous jewelled bindings like the present, the most famous of which was a Rubáiyát written and illuminated by Alberto Sangorski (1862–1932), brother of Francis, co-founder, with George Sutcliffe, of the bindery. Finished in 1911, "The Great Omar" (as it is now known) sunk without trace a year later when in transit to America aboard the Titanic. This illuminated poem by Tennyson is a characteristic example of the Sangorski style, in a handsome jewelled binding.
Manuscript on vellum (225 × 165 mm), 14 leaves plus 4 blanks, in disciplined calligraphic hand in black and red ink to recto and verso. Contemporary blue-green morocco by Sangorski & Sutcliffe, signed at the foot of the front doublure; boards decorated with borders of brown onlays tooled with floral designs, short rules, and dots, and with red onlays at the cornerpieces; centre panel of upper board blocked in gilt in an elaborate and detailed floral design with red onlays and inset with 5 garnet cabochons and 6 turquoise cabochons; spine gilt in compartments with floral designs and red onlays; morocco turn-ins gilt ruled, white endpapers, gilt edges. Housed in a green morocco gatefold jewel case lined in cream silk and green velvet. Title page and first page of contents illuminated with bold acanthus leaves of red, green, and purple on a gold background, the title page with a delicate illumination of a woman dressed in robes. Verse initials in colour. Light toning to endpapers from turn-ins, otherwise in fine condition.
