William Morris’s The Story of the Glittering Plain was first serialized in the English Illustrated Magazine (Vol. 7) of 1890. In 1891 Morris published the story as the first book to be printed by his Kelsmcott Press. The first Kelmscott edition was not illustrated, but used decorated capitals and Morris’s Golden type face. A second edition, with illustrations was published in 1894.
The book concerns the quest of Hallblithe of the House of the Raven to rescue his fiancée the Hostage, who has been kidnapped by pirates, which ultimately takes him to the Land of the Glittering Plain, also known as the Acre of the Undying or the Land of the Living Men, whose inhabitants are supposedly immortal.
8vo, vellum with wash-leather ties, in oversized green slipcase, gilt title on spine, on paper with William Morris flower watermark, Golden type in black ink. William Morris woodcut border on title and woodcut initials throughout
