{"product_id":"1846-grays-elegy-bound-by-owen-jones","title":"1846 Gray's Elegy Bound by Owen Jones","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: large;\"\u003eA highly desirable example of one of the finest Victorian illuminated books, designed throughout by the celebrated designer Owen Jones. This first edition is bound in its original full-relief embossed leather binding, with elaborate Gothic and foliate decoration to both boards and spine. The text of Gray's immortal poem is presented across richly decorated chromolithographic pages inspired by medieval manuscript illumination.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: large;\"\u003eThe volume retains its striking original binding and displays the extraordinary decorative vision that established Owen Jones as one of the most influential designers of the nineteenth century.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: large;\"\u003eDescription\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: large;\"\u003eFirst Edition, 1846\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: large;\"\u003ePublished by Longman \u0026amp; Co., London\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: large;\"\u003eIlluminated and designed by Owen Jones\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: large;\"\u003eOriginal full-relief embossed leather binding\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: large;\"\u003eThirty-two thick card leaves with chromolithographic decoration\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: large;\"\u003eElaborate Gothic lettering, ornamental initials, and gilt highlights throughout\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: large;\"\u003eLarge octavo format\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: large;\"\u003eComplete decorative program including illuminated text pages and ornamental initials\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: large;\"\u003eCondition\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: large;\"\u003eA well-preserved collector's copy.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: large;\"\u003eThe original embossed leather binding remains sound and attractive, with crisp decorative detail throughout. Boards are firmly attached. Some rubbing and wear are present at the corners and spine extremities, consistent with age and handling.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: large;\"\u003eInternally, the chromolithographic decorations remain bright and attractive. Scattered foxing is present throughout, as commonly encountered in nineteenth-century illustrated books. No major tears, detached leaves, or significant structural issues observed.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: large;\"\u003eOverall a handsome and highly displayable example of this landmark Victorian book.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: large;\"\u003eAbout Owen Jones\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: large;\"\u003eOwen Jones was among the most influential designers, architects, and design theorists of the Victorian era. Best known for his masterpiece,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Grammar of Ornament\u003c\/span\u003e, Jones helped shape nineteenth-century taste through his study of historical and global decorative traditions.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: large;\"\u003eHis work drew inspiration from medieval manuscripts, Islamic architecture, Renaissance ornament, and Gothic design. Jones believed that ornament should be governed by underlying principles of harmony, geometry, and colour, ideas that profoundly influenced the Arts and Crafts Movement, Aesthetic Movement, and later design reform movements.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: large;\"\u003eHis illuminated books, including\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGray's Elegy\u003c\/span\u003e, represent some of the earliest and most successful attempts to unite typography, illustration, colour printing, and bookbinding into a single artistic achievement.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: large;\"\u003eThe Production of the Book\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: large;\"\u003eThe Binding\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: large;\"\u003eThe original binding is a remarkable example of mid-nineteenth-century decorative book production. The leather covers were embossed using specially engraved metal dies that impressed the intricate foliate and Gothic designs deeply into the leather under pressure. The resulting relief decoration creates a sculptural surface rarely seen in modern bindings.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: large;\"\u003eThe cover design forms part of Owen Jones's complete artistic conception of the volume, with the exterior ornament echoing the Gothic motifs found throughout the interior pages.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: large;\"\u003eChromolithographic Printing\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: large;\"\u003eThe interior leaves were produced using the relatively new process of chromolithography, one of the most technically demanding colour-printing methods of the nineteenth century.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: large;\"\u003eEach colour was printed separately from its own prepared lithographic stone, requiring meticulous registration to ensure perfect alignment. Gold, black, red, blue, green, and other decorative elements were often printed through multiple successive impressions.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: large;\"\u003eThe result was a richly coloured page capable of imitating the appearance of medieval illuminated manuscripts while being reproducible in printed form. Jones was among the pioneers who demonstrated the artistic potential of chromolithography and helped establish it as one of the defining printing technologies of the Victorian age.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: large;\"\u003eThe heavy card leaves used in this edition were specifically chosen to support the rich printing and preserve the vibrancy of the colours and metallic ornament.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: large;\"\u003eCondition:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: large;\"\u003eAll Chromolithographed pages present\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: large;\"\u003eGilt still strong\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: large;\"\u003eRelivo binding still strong\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: large;\"\u003eFoxing\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: large;\"\u003eSlight staining\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: large;\"\u003eSlight wearing on the covers\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: large;\"\u003eSmall chips can be found on the corners.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: large;\"\u003eMissing page with printer's\/publishers information\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: large;\"\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: large;\"\u003eWeight - 630g\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: large;\"\u003eHeight - 26cm\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: large;\"\u003eWidth - 18cm\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: large;\"\u003eThickness - 2.5cm\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Momo Rare Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54022327009619,"sku":null,"price":1100.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0953\/9187\/5411\/files\/IMG_7895.jpg?v=1781717406","url":"https:\/\/www.momorarebooks.co.uk\/products\/1846-grays-elegy-bound-by-owen-jones","provider":"Momo Rare Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}