Fine Books & Manuscripts

PETRARCH, Francesco (1304-1374). The Triumphs of… Florentine Poet Laureate. Translated by Henry Boyd. Cambridge: University Press for Little Brown and Company, [1906]. Small folio. 6 plates reproducing Florentine engravings of the 15th century, 6 large opening initials hand-illuminated and raised in gold, other initials printed in blue. Original decoratively embossed full reddish brown morocco, raised bands, gilt titling in compartment, edges uncut; folding cloth box (edges worn). Provenance: Abingdon School prize bookplate dated 1922; Beloit College (subtle embossed stamp on title). LIMITED EDITION, number 21 of 200 copies printed on hand-made paper with watermark of oval portrait of Petrarch, in Humanistic type designed by William Dana Orcutt for the first time which is “a very calligraphic face, based on a manuscript Virgil in the Laurentian Library” (Thompson, American Book Design and William Morris, p. 75). Considered the finest book produced by Orcutt while at the University Press.