SANGORSKI, Alberto, calligrapher and illuminator -- GRAY, Thomas. "The Progress of Poesy. A Pindaric Ode." [London], 1916.
4o (261 x 200 mm). ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPT ON VELLUM, 11 leaves (i.e. written or decorated on 18 pages, including colophon), plus 2 blank vellum leaves at front and 3 at rear, written in a semi-gothic script in black, with some initial letters or words in red. Title-page with miniature portrait of Gray surrounded by a full gilt-floral border in colors incorporating title with illuminated initial T against a gold ground; the page facing first page of text with full-page miniature within full decorative border heightened with gold, 2 smaller vignette miniatures incorporated into decorative borders, each miniature and vignette initial-signed by Sangorski; 9 large illuminated initials and other ornaments, text leaves with full or partial borders and heightened with gold, the decoration in bright, bold colors of purple, blue and green, mostly in Italian-acanthus style, other smaller initials in red.
Bound in full dark blue morocco by Riviere and Son, front cover with inlaid crimson border panel densely gilt with leaf and floral tools punctuated with dark blue circles, surrounding a large central recessed arabesque-shaped panel, with dark blue inlaid border, containing a blooming rose bush with a bird, bees (with wings of mother-of-pearl inlays), a ladybug, and a butterfly IN FINELY MOLDED RELIEF OF COLORED AND PAINTED LEATHER set against a dotted-gilt ground; the rear cover similarly decorated with large recessed central panel containing morning glory flowers in bloom with their leaves inhabited by a moth, a catepillar, ladybugs and bees (with wings of mother-of-pear inlays) in finely molded relief of colored and painted leather set against a dotted-gilt ground; spine in six compartments, gilt-lettered in two, a repeated inlaid gloral gilt panel in the rest, board edges with double gilt fillets, doublures of inlaid maroon morocco with inlaid and gilt-ruled geometric interlace design, free endpages of grayish-blue watered silk, gilt edges, stamp-signed on turn-in: "bound by Riviere & Son"; straight-grained morocco clamshell box (cover detached). Provenance: purchased from John G. Kidd & Son, Inc., Cincinnati, 13 December 1945.
Colphon statement: "This manuscript 'The Progress of Poesy' a poem by Thomas Gray was designed, written out, and illuminated by Alberto Sangorski for Messrs R. Riviere & Son Bookbinders and Booksellers by appointment to his Majesty King George V London. This manuscript will not be duplicated. This manuscript was executed by me [signed:] Alberto Sangorski."
AN EXCEPTIONAL BINDING WITH FINELEY MOLDED AND COLORED LEATHER RELIEF PANELS.