The Finest Book Since Gutenberg: Kelmscott Chaucer Achieves $68,750 at Auction
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BOSTON, MA – January 9, 2025 – RR Auction is pleased to announce the sale of an exceptional copy of The Works of Geoffrey Chaucer, produced by the esteemed Kelmscott Press in 1896, for an impressive $68,750 and often hailed as “the finest book since Gutenberg,” this sought-after oversized volume was designed by the influential artist and designer William Morris.
This important first edition, newly imprinted and edited by F. S. Ellis, is one of just 425 copies on handmade paper out of a total edition of 438, which includes 13 copies on vellum. The book, consisting of 554 pages, is bound in its original quarter linen with blue paper boards and housed in a custom-made clamshell case.
Founded in 1891 by William Morris and Emery Walker, the Kelmscott Press aimed to replicate the elegance of 15th-century printing and played a pivotal role in the contemporary fine press movement, emphasizing craftsmanship and design in bookmaking. Regarded as the press’s magnum opus, the Kelmscott Chaucer is often celebrated as one of the most beautiful printed books in existence.
“This sale exemplifies the timeless beauty and enduring legacy of fine press books,” said Bobby Livingston, Executive Vice President of RR Auction. “The Kelmscott Chaucer is not just a book; it’s a work of art representing the pinnacle of bookmaking craftsmanship.”
Among other highlights in the sale, which achieved nearly $1,000,000:
The Doors: Jim Morrison Handwritten Lyrics for ‘Universal Mind’, sold for $53,056.
Jimmy Carter and Deng Xiaoping Signed a Magazine, “The China Breakthrough,” which sold for $29,948.
Albert Einstein Signed Letter, with Equations Related to His Work on Unified Field Theory, sold for $26,489.
Benjamin Franklin Signed Document (1764), Approving Funds for the Commissioners for Indian Affairs, sold for $22,888.
J. R. R. Tolkien Signed Letter on Publishing the Final Volume of The Lord of the Rings, sold for $18,760.
The Fine Autographs and Artifacts Featuring Art and Literature sale began on December 20 and concluded on January 8. For more information or to register, visit www.RRAuction.com.
