The Kingis Quair.

Hacon & Ricketts [Vale Press], London, 1903

A hidden gem of medieval poetry, written c. 1423 and attributed to James I of Scotland. One of 260 copies.

Description: Half cloth over blue paper boards, printed label on front cover. Front and back endpapers of same paper as contents. Octavo: 24 × 15 cm; pag: liv (54 pp.). 1 Initial. Printed from ‘King's fount’ in red and black on ‘Vale-Press’ hand-made paper, top edges uncut.

Ref.: Watry B42

Condition: Binding generally in very good condition with only light discolouration to the covers and printed paper label. One notable scratch to rear cover. Endpapers partially slightly browned. Contents bright and clean. Despite the occasional minor blemish, an excellent copy.

Notes: Ricketts prefaced his edition of the King’s Quair with quotations taken from Rossetti’s historical ballad The King’s Tragedy. The single decorated initial in the volume is used to distinguish the envoy from the rest of the poem. Robert Steele edited this text from the Bodleian manuscript (Arch. Seiden B24, fols. 192–211): his corrections are not annotated (Watry 2004, 174).