[Fine Binding | The French Binders | Elston Press | Illuminated] Daphnis and Chloe

Longus (Angell Daye, trans.). Daphnis and Chloe. New Rochelle, NY: Elston Press, 1904. One of 160 unnumbered copies printed by Clarke Conwell. "The text, here newly printed, is the text of a unique copy, dated 1587, of Angell Day's translation from Amyot's version of the Greek of Longus." Printed in red and black. All initials and the four woodcut illustrations by H. M. O'Kane have been beautifully illuminated in gold and colors, with thick tissue guard paper bound in opposite all pages with an initial and/or woodcut.

Bound in full blue green crushed morocco by The French Binders with a large gilt-ruled frame to the covers, with small floral stamps to the top and bottom portions. Five bands to spine with title to second compartment, and large gilt stamps to remaining compartments. Full red gilt-rolled doublures with blue watered silk endpapers. All edges gilt. Measures approx. 8" x 11".

Edges and spine bands rubbed, corners bumped. 1.5" x 1.5" dark circular stain on front cover with a few other smaller stains to covers, as well. Front cover and spine lightly faded. Thread at top and bottom of silk endpapers slightly frayed.

This was the last book printed by the Elston Press. In his book Notes on the Elston Press, Herbert Johnson states that this book "...stands alone as O'Kane's masterwork. Here her most successful illustrations are perfectly matched to a superb typographical plan."

After the dissolution of the Club Bindery, Henry Hardy, Leon Maillard, and Gaston Pilon moved to Cleveland in 1909, with the establishment of the short-lived Rowfant Bindery (1909-1913), bank-rolled by Willis Vickery. The binders then were known as The Booklover's Shop bindery (1914-1917), and following a move back to New York, The French Binders (1918-1920s) (Bound to Be the Best: The Club Bindery, Boss).