Books in Special Collections: A Sampler

This page lists the books that we saw on our visit to Special Collections. Where there is a thumbnail image in the righthand column, you may click to see a larger image of the book. More images, as well as links to larger visual resource pages, will be added as the course progresses.

These images are taken from books in the department of Rare Books and Special Collections, University of British Columbia Library.

William Morris and the Kelmscott Press

We have quite a few items related to Morris and items produced by the Kelmscott Press; these are only a few.

The story of Gunnlaug the Worm-Tongue and Raven the Skald. Even as Ari Thorgilson the learned, the priest, hath told it, etc. London: Chiswick Press, 1891. PR10 P4 M6 1891

Jacobus de Voragine. Golden legend of master William Caxton done anew. 3 vols. London: Kelmscott Press, 1892. PN683 J151 1892

Tale of the Emperor Coustans and of over sea. Translated by W. Morris: Kelmscott Press, 1894. PR10 P4M6 1894 T3 [top right]

Thomas Clanvowe. Floure and the leafe, & The boke of Cupide, god of love, or The cuckow and the nightingale. Edited by F. S. Ellis. Hammersmith: Kelmscott Press, 1896. Pr1898 F4 1896 [bottom right]

Syr Ysambrace. Edited by F. S. Ellis. Hammersmith: Kelmscott Press, 1897. PR2065 I8 1897

Other Fine/ Small Press Printings; Middlebrow collectibles, etc.

Thomas Malory. Birth, life, and acts of King Arthur. 12 parts; 2 vols [we have both fascicle and bound copies, both small- and large-paper formats; we also have the second and third editions]. J.M.Dent, 1893. PR10 T2 B3. [top right]

Dante Alighieri . Lo inferno, Lo purgatorio, Lo paradiso. 3 vols. London: Nella stamperia de Ashendene, 1902-1905. PQ4305 A1 1902; PQ4306 A1 1904; PQ 4307 A1 1905 [middle right]

Jean Froissart and John Bourchier, Lord Berners. Cronycles of Englande, Fraunce, Spayne, Portyngale, Scotlande, Bretayne, Flaunders and other places [Froissart's Cronycles]. 8 vols. Stratford-upon-Avon: Printed at the Shakespeare Head Press & pub. for the Press by B. Blackwell Oxford, 1927. D113 F878 1927 [bottom right]

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Translated by Ormerod Greenwood. London: Lion and Unicorn Press, 1956. PR2065.G3 G7 1956

Jean Froissart. The Chronicles of England, France, Spain and Other Places Adjoining. Translated by J. B. L. Berners. Edited by G. C. Macaulay. New York: Limited Editions Club, 1959. D113 F77 1959

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Edited by A. C. Cawley. New York: Limited Editions Club, 1971. UBC Sp Coll PR2065 .G3 1971

Antiquarians, Ballad Poetry etc.

Selections from the early ballad poetry of England and Scotland. Edited by R. J. King. London: William Pickering, 1842. PR10 K6 P5 1842 S4

Thomas Percy. Reliques of ancient English poetry: consisting of old heroic ballads, songs, and other pieces of our earlier poets; together with some few of later date. 3d ed. 3 vols. London: J. Dodsley, 1775. Pr4336.2. We also have the second edition, at PR1181.P5 1767

Joseph Ritson. Pieces of ancient popular poetry: From Authentic Manuscripts and Old Printed Copies. Adorned with Cuts. Whitehall: T. and J. Egerton, 1791. Pr10.N4 A4a

The Children’s Middle Ages

We have a large collection of historical children’s literature, including gift books and schoolbooks. This is just a sampling.

Guy of Warwick; with Nine Splendid Illustrations on Wood by Croome and Brightly. From Original Designs by Darby. Edited by L. Lovechild, Grandfather Lovechild's Nursery Stories. Philadelphia: George B. Zieber, 1847. PZ6 1847 L 694

M. E. J. Haweis. Chaucer for Children. A Golden Key. By Mrs. H. R. Haweis, illustrated with eight coloured pictures and numerous woodcuts by the author ... London: Chatto & Windus, 1877. PR1872 .H3 1877 [top right]

Geoffrey Chaucer. Chaucer for Schools. Edited by M. H. R. Haweis. London: Spottiswoode and Co., 1881. PR1852.H3 1881

Jean Froissart. Stories from Froissart. Wells Gardner Warton, 1899. PR10.S2 N4 1899 S7

Howard Pyle. The story of King Arthur and his knights. New York: C. Scribner's Sons, 1903. UBC Sp Coll PZ6 1903 P944

Henry Gilbert. King Arthur's knights: the tales re-told for boys & girls by Henry Gilbert. With 16 Illustrations in Colour by Walter Crane. New York: F.A. Stokes, 1911. Pz6 1911 G563 [middle right]

Louis Rhead. Bold Robin Hood and his outlaw band ; their famous exploits in Sherwood Forest. Penned and Pictured by Louis Rhead. London: Harper & brothers, 1912. PZ6 1912 R494

F. J. H. Darton. The story of the Canterbury pilgrims. Retold from Chaucer and Others by Harvey Darton. Illustrated by M.L. Kirk. New York: Frederick A. Stokes, 1914. PZ6 1914 C428 [bottom right]

Henry Gilbert. Robin Hood and his merry men. With Illustrations in colour by Walter Crane. London: T. Nelson and Sons, F.A. Stokes, 1914. PZ6 1914 G542

Miscellaneous

Thomas Malory. The history of the renowned Prince Arthur, King of Great Britain; with his life and death, and all his glorious battles. Likewise, the noble acts and heroic deeds of his valiant knights of the Round Table. 2 vols. London: Printed for Walker and Edwards; J. Richardson [& 15 others], 1816. Pr2043 W18 1816

F. B. T. C.-N. b. Latymer. King Arthur, a trilogy of lyrical dramas founded on the Morte d'Arthur of Sir Thomas Malory. Privately printed, 1897. PR10 L2 R3 1897