‘The Golden Legend’ was intended to be the first title issued by the Kelmscott Press, but was delayed because of its length (some 1,300 folio pages) and the fact that the original paper delivery was not sized correctly. The text is by Jacobus de Voragine and is a thirteenth century collection of saints lives, it was one of the first books printed in English by William Caxton who also translated it from Latin. Kelmscott Press editor, FS Ellis’s daughter Phyllis transcribed Caxton’s first edition from Cambridge University Library. The illustrations are Edward Burne-Jones and it is one of three volumes (see also K17a and K17b). 500 copies on paper were printed, none on vellum.
