FIRST ANNING-BELL EDITION. Delux limited edition issue, one of just 125 numbered copies printed on Japanese vellum, this number 27. 8vo. (8.8 x 5.8 inches). Fully illustrated with Frontis and title page, three double page section title pages, printed in red and black, plus twenty full page plates, and dozens of smaller illustrations in line throughout the text. Colour plate, printed in burgundy and green and reproducing the decorative vinyard design that was used on the binding of the trade edition, bound in before the Limitation leaf and half title. In a fine decorative full brown calf binding by Alice Shepherd, for Cedric Chivers of Bath, with her initials cut into the bottom of the design on the front board. Lettering and design cut into the leather on the spine and front board, raising the leather to give floral designs and also a design of a woman in a long flowing gown, within a gilt ruled panel to the front board, all with gilt dots to accentuate the flowers in the designs. Rear board with small cut and gilt dot design to the centre of the board. Spine with a single and both boards with a double gilt ruled border. Board edges with wavy dotted line design. Turn-ins with triple ruled borders and floral corner pieces. Endpapers with simple floral stamps. Top edge gilt, the other edges untrimmed. Neat previous owners gift inscription, dated Xmas 1897, to front blank endpaper, otherwise a fine and clean copy throughout. Corners a little bumped but overall a stunning and very near fine example of Chivers work. A rare edition of this beautiful book and even more so in this unique and beautiful binding, one of the earliest that Alice Shepherd executed for Chivers. Marianne Tidcombe, in her book Women Bookbinders 1880-1920, mentions that Shepherd began working for the firm 'about 1897, where she was in charge of a department of about five women doing cut and modelled calf work'. More photos available on request.