William Caxton "The History Of Reynard The Foxe" Traycased Deluxe Limited Edition of 600 [Sealed]

A deluxe Limited Edition of only 600. This is the re-creation of the remarkable 1892 edition printed by William Morris at Kelmscott Press in an issue of about 300. This edition features stunning typesetting and the classic original Middle English text. 

Easton Press, Norwalk CT. 2025. William Caxton "The History Of Reynard The Foxe". Tray-cased Deluxe Limited Edition of only 600. The reproduction of the exquisite 1892 edition of the classic medieval tales. Dimensions: 8" x 11". 176 pages. Translated to English from the Dutch/Flemish by William Caxton in 1481.

"Hyer begynneth the hystorye of Reynard the Foxe..."

The Kelmscott Press stands as one of publishing’s greatest small presses... Now, its 1892 edition of the timeless medieval tale of the trickster Reynard the Foxe is available in this Easton Press deluxe leather-bound edition. With sumptuous paper, an intricate cover design pressed into the leather, a clothbound slipcase with matching, textured design, and individually hand-marbled end-sheets, this is one of the most luxurious editions this publisher has ever produced.

Chapters include the following and many more (shown here in Middle English -- remarkably readable even today):

• "How the kynge of all bestes, the Lyon, helde his court"
• "How the foxe was arestid and juged to deth"
• "How the kynge forgaf the foxe all thyngis and made hym soverayn over al his landes"
• "How the foxe with his frendes departed nobly fro the kynge and wente to his castel"

Printed and bound in the United States of America. Printed on Crane's Lettra 100% Fine Cotton Fiber paper with handmade marbled endpapers. Bound in Italian cowhide leather.

Printed on archival quality, acid-neutral paper specially milled for this edition that conforms to all guidelines established for permanence and durability by the Council of Library Resources and the American National Standards Institute.

Reynard the Fox

Reynard the Fox is a literary cycle of medieval allegorical Dutch, English, French and German fables. The first extant versions of the cycle date from the second half of the 12th century. The genre was popular throughout the Late Middle Ages, as well as in chapbook form throughout the Early Modern period.

The stories are largely concerned with the main character Reynard, an anthropomorphic red fox, trickster figure. His adventures usually involve his deceiving other anthropomorphic animals for his own advantage, or trying to avoid their retaliatory efforts. His main enemy and victim across the cycle is his uncle, the wolf, Isengrim (or Ysengrim).

While the character of Reynard appears in later works, the core stories were written during the Middle Ages by multiple authors and are often seen as parodies of medieval literature, such as courtly love stories and chansons de geste, as well as a satire of political and religious institutions. The trickster fox, Reynard, lives in a society of other talking animals (lion, bear, wolf, donkey, etc), making the stories a beast epic.

The original copies were written in Old French, and have since been translated into many different languages. However, the tales of Reynard come from all across Europe and each retelling has details that are specific to its area. The tales, no matter where they take place, are designed to represent the society around them and include the structures of society around them, such as a noble court. While the authors take many liberties with the story telling, not all of the satire is meant to be rude or malicious in intent.

Features

• Fully bound in genuine leather.
• 22kt gold deeply inlaid on the "hubbed" spine.
• Custom-crafted clothbound slipcase.
• Superbly printed on acid-neutral paper that lasts for generations.
• Sewn pages — not just glued like ordinary books.
• Printed end-pages and a satin-ribbon page marker.
• Printed and bound in the USA. Imported materials.
• Rigorous inspection at every stage ensures adherence to exacting standards.
• Superb craftsmanship and commitment to quality.
• Beautiful Illustrations
• Gilded Page Edges