1926 Examples of San Bernardino of Siena

Description

First Edition, Illustrated, Leather Binding, Limited Edition, Publishers' Original Binding, Scarce, Signed

First Limited Edition, being No. 55 of one-hundred and five copies that were printed on handmade paper and bound in a full vellum binding. 

Signed by the artist Robert Austin (1895-1973) to the limited edition statement page. Austin was considered to be one of Britain's leading twentieth century printmakers, alongside his illustrating, engraving, and currency designs. 

Illustrated with a frontispiece, an engraved title page, three full-page engravings, and twenty-three in-text engravings by Austin. 

This is a wonderful biographical account of Bernardino of Siena (1380-1444) the Italian priest and Franciscan missionary, which also contains many of his sermons and moral tales. Bernardino was canonised by the Catholic Church and is sometimes referred to as the 'Apostle of Italy' because of his efforts to revive Catholicism in the 15th century. He is the patron saint of advertising, communications, compulsive gambling, respiratory problems, 'as well as any problems involving the chest area', and the patron saint of Carpi, Italy.  

Contents include 'Bernardino in his Times', 'Bernardino the Franciscan', as well as 'Examples of San Bernardino', containing sermons like 'The Vanity of Woman', 'A New Method of Teaching', 'A Canine Saint', and 'The Malice of Party Men'. 

Written and collected by Ada Harrison (1899-1958), a South African writer who spent most of her life within London. Harrison published various works on Italy, and was also the wife of Robert Austin, who she met during her travels in Italy. 

With an institutional bookplate to front paste down belonging to the Brooklyn Public Library, as well as a prior owner's bookplate belonging to John M. Cameron. 

Collated, complete.