MEREDITH, George. Diana of the Crossways (Bound by Galwey of Dublin)

London, Chapman and Hall, 1891. Octavo. Finely bound in full dark green crushed morocco by Galwey [white printed label: Bound by/ Galwey & Co./ Eustace St. Dublin] on the front pastedown ). Covers richly decorated with a charming Art Nouveau-style gilt and onlaid floral design. A graceful gilt-stemmed wreath, interspersed with small gilt dots and delicate red, green, and cream onlays, runs as a border around the covers. The lower cover corners and centre are further ornamented with clusters of inlaid flowers in red, cream, and green, delicately tooled in gilt. The spine, with age, is divided into five compartments by raised bands, each gilt-tooled with small floral motifs, the second lettered in gilt DIANA / OF THE / CROSSWAYS, and at the foot the binder’s ticket Galway / Dublin. Inner gilt dentelles with plain green morocco doublures. All edges gilt. A very attractive binding. Slight fading to the spine otherwise a fine and most unusual example from Galwey’s bindery. b
Provenance: Bound by Norman McLeod for Galwey in a binding similar to The Jest Book which was exhibited at the first exhibition of the Arts and Crafts Society of Ireland in 1895 (see Larmour - ‘The Arts & Crafts Movement in Ireland.

[CAT 162]