Morris, William ( 1834-1896 )
An English poet, painter, architect and printer,
who led the movement in search of higher standards
of workmanship among craft bookbinders in the
latter years of the 19th century. It was Morris'
wife who recommended that Cobden-Sanderson take up
bookbinding. Later Cobden-Sanderson founded the
Doves Bindery to bind books produced by the
Kelmscott Press. Morris and his group also sought
to improve the quality of the materials used in
bookbinding, and, under his influence, great
emphasis was placed on both utility and beauty.
While Morris' name is best remembered for his
revival of fine printing, some outstanding
bindings were executed on editions of beautifully
printed books produced at his Kelmscott Press,
which he founded in 1891. These vellum bindings
were not ornamented except for the title in gold
on the spine, and had projecting covers which were
bent over the fore edge. Ribbon ties held the
covers closed. They had flat spines, and were sewn
on tapes, which were extended to the fore edge to
form the ties. (339
, 347 )
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