[Illuminated Arts & Crafts Manuscript in Folio] A Collection of Thoughts

A Collection of Thoughts. An illuminated Arts & Crafts manuscript by an unknown artist, circa 1920. Title-page within decorative gouache and gilt border. 61 illuminated leaves, decorative borders and letters in gouache heightened in gold (some with burnished gold foil, some with gold paint). Illustration styles range from traditional medieval manuscript style, to arts & crafts, to art nouveau, and verging on art deco. Including quotes and aphorisms by Cicero, Seneca, Epictetus, Stevenson, Thoreau, Shakespeare, Bacon, and numerous others, each with an illuminated initial, within wide illuminated borders on heavyweight Whatman paper. Bound in full vellum by Sangorski & Sutcliffe with small gilt ornament to front and rear cover. Gilt bands, small decoration, and lettering to spine. Gilt turn-ins. All edges gilt. Measures approx. 11.25" x 15.25". Some slight bowing to vellum covers, along with some spotting to vellum. Some of the gold in the illumination has faded.

A unique, skilled, and remarkable example, and breathtaking to consider the sheer number of hours that would have gone into its production.