[Roycrofters | Fine Binding | Limited to 31 Copies] Ballads of a Book-worm

Browne, Irving. Ballads of a Book-worm; Being a Rythmic Record of thoughts, Fancies, & Adventures a-collection. East Aurora, NY: The Roycrofters, 1899. Limited to 31 copies on Imperial Japan Vellum, of which this is #14 of 31. Title page and initials illumined by hand. Designed by W.W. Denslow. "Denslow's scroll-style decorative initials are rendered by hand at the beginning of each poem, painted within outlines impressed into the paper from un-inked engravings" (Ogle). The regular edition was bound in paper-covered boards. 

Bound in full kelly green crushed levant morocco (stamp signed "-ROYCROFT-" on the front turn-in), with a swirling hand gouged gilt design surrounding a small book stamp and olive branch stamp. Five bands to spine with title and author to second and fourth compartments, along with gouged design to first, fourth, and fifth compartments, and book stamp and small fleurons to third compartment. Wide turn-ins with flowing gilt vines and light green silk doublures and endpapers. Top edge gilt. Measures 6" x 8.75". Spine faded to brown and some subtler fading around edges of covers. Silk on free endpapers detaching from paper. Bump to top edge of front cover near spine. Slight rubbing to corners.