A Certain Young Man of Assisi
San Francisco: John Henry Nash, 1934. Limited edition. Folio (10 7/8 inches tall), marbled boards over a half cloth spine. printed paper spine label, uncut. Sharp corners, fully intact paper spine label. Very modest wear and soiling to original boards. A nearly-fine copy. Item #453
"HIS SPIRIT WILL LIVE FOREVER IN THE HEARTS OF THE WORLD"
Limited fine press edition of this illustrated Life of Saint Francis of Assisi, number 572 of only 650 copies printed. A beautiful book.
May Southworth's biography of "Il Poverello" is prefaced with her loving Dedication to the City of Saint Francis: "To San Francisco--Beloved City / both for its own sake and for the sake of its patron Saint Francis / of whom, in beauty and sweetness of life / it may well be the name-child / I dedicate this book." The Foreword concludes: "His spirit will live forever in the hearts of the world and all acknowledge reverently the memory of one who taught us that love, mercy, and charity are as acceptable in the sight of the Lord as all the creeds and dogmas of the earth."
A Certain Young Man of Assisi was produced by the great San Franciscan printer, John Henry Nash, and illustrated by Will Wilke with ten plates, decorative tailpieces, and historiated initials in the text. The full-page plates include: Frontispiece, I. St. Damian, II. Arms of St. Francis, III. Francis' Blessing to Brother Leo, IV. Francis Preaching to the Birds, V. Chapel of Peace Gubbio, VI. Courtyard of the Carceri, VII. The Hut Orlando built for Francis on Mount Alvernia, VIII. Chapel of the Stigmata, IX. Midnight Procession of Friars on Mount Alvernia. A Certain Young Man was the successor of sorts to The Life of Saint Francis of Assisi (1931), also printed by Nash and illustrated by Wilke.
Price: $100.00