A note by William Morris on his aims in founding the Kelmscott Press, 1898

This little book (1898) by William Morris is the last book printed at his Kelmscott Press, one of the most important art presses of the 19C the Brotherton has one of only 537 copies. It describes Morris’ plan for his publication of The Earthly Paradise, which he started to work on as early as 1866 (p. 7). Wood engravings for the story were commissioned, but not used in the end for Earthly Paradise. The image of Psyche carried by Zephyrus, featured prominently in this account of the Kelmscott Press, is one of the designs for the story of Cupid and Psyche and others that were already finished, designed by Morris’ friend and associate Edward Burne-Jones (1833-1898), forty-four were engraved on wood in line, “somewhat in the manner of the early German masters”. About thirty-five were executed by William Morris, the rest by others.

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