The Book of Kells: Described by Sir Edward Sullivan, Bart., and Illustrated with Twenty-Four Plates in Colours.

SULLIVAN, Sir Edward.

Item Number: 117445

London, Paris, New York: The Studio Ltd, 1914.

First edition of the first colored facsimile edition of the Book of Kells. Quarto, original decorated cloth, illustrated with twenty-four tissue-guarded plates. In near fine condition.

"Its weird and commanding beauty; its subdued and goldless colouring; the baffling intricacy of its fearless designs; the clean, unwavering sweep of rounded spiral; the creeping undulations of serpentine forms, the strong and legible minuscule of its text; the quaintness of its striking portraiture; the unwearied reverence and patient labour that brought it into being; all of which combined go to make up the Book of Kells, have raised this ancient Irish volume to a position of abiding pre-eminince amongst the illuminated manuscripts of the world." (Sir Edward Sullivan, Introduction).