International Kelmscott Press Day At The Museum Of Printing

On Saturday, June 26, 2021 we will celebrate the 125th anniversary of the publication of the Kelmscott edition of The Works of Geoffrey Chaucer by William Morris.

The William Morris Society in the United States is organizing an international celebration to commemorate the founding of the Kelmscott Press in 1891.

Four years in the making, with illustrations by the Pre-Raphaelite artist Edward Burne-Jones, and designed by Morris in every detail, the Kelmscott Chaucer, as it is commonly known, is universally considered one of the most beautiful books ever printed. It influenced the private press movement and the modern book.

The Museum’s “Chaucer” replica will be on display.

There will be a demonstration of printing on a vintage hand press and discussions on William Morris and on the typography of the Kelmscott Press.

William Morris (1834–1896) founded the most celebrated private press in the history of printing in 1891. Morris was internationally known for his furniture, stained glass, wallpaper, and for his many literary works.

Morris wanted to return to pre-industrial craftsmanship because he claimed that the printing craft had degraded. He embarked on what he termed his “typographical adventure.”

In seven years, the Kelmscott Press produced over 22,000 copies of 53 titles. The most famous of these is The Works of Geoffrey Chaucer (1896), known as the Kelmscott Chaucer.

The success of Kelmscott was due to the talents of editor F. S. Ellis (1830–1901), illustrator Edward Burne-Jones (1833–1898), and engraver W. H. Hooper (1834–1912). Morris originally hired the young Sydney Cockerell (1867–1962) to catalog his personal library but became Morris’ literary executor.