[Fine Binding | Modeled Goatskin] Aucassin & Nicolette
[Fine Binding | Modeled Goatskin] Aucassin & Nicolette
[Fine Binding | Modeled Goatskin] Aucassin & Nicolette
[Fine Binding | Modeled Goatskin] Aucassin & Nicolette
[Fine Binding | Modeled Goatskin] Aucassin & Nicolette
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  • Load image into Gallery viewer, [Fine Binding | Modeled Goatskin] Aucassin & Nicolette
  • Load image into Gallery viewer, [Fine Binding | Modeled Goatskin] Aucassin & Nicolette
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[Fine Binding | Modeled Goatskin] Aucassin & Nicolette

This is of Aucassin and Nicolette, An Old-French Song-Tale. Edinburgh: Otto Schulze & Co., 1902. Limited to 500 copies. Ornate medieval-style initials throughout. Bound in light brown modelled goatskin in the style of Annie S. MacDonald and Phoebe Anna Traquair, featuring an elaborate knight on horseback in the center of the front cover and a line from the tale as the border of the front cover: "THE SONG IS SWEET THE STORY FAIR SEEMLY COURTLY DEBONAIR". Gilt ruled turn-ins. Top edge gilt. Measures approx. 9.25" x 11.5". Light rubbing to corners and a few spots to covers. Offsetting to endpapers. 

"Inspired by Medieval books, [Annie S. MacDonald] began teaching herself and others in the early 1890s (in a group that became known as the Edinburgh Arts and Crafts Club)... MacDonald used undressed goatskin, which mellows with age from white to a rich amber color, and worked it with one small tool, without cutting, raising, or padding the leather. Tidcombe gives MacDonald the credit for inspiring the bookseller Frank Karslake to establish the Guild of Women Binders and says that 'MacDonald was the prime mover in this, as she was eager to have a London outlet for bindings produced by her group... Their modeled goatskin bindings comprised 40 of the 114 bindings shown in the first Guild exhibition'" (Booktryst).