97. Gooden (Stephen) Proofs for Peronnik the Fool, 7 sheets of printed leaves of text incorporating vignette title and 7 (of 8) illustrations, all engraved by Stephen Gooden (lacking that for ‘Redemonde on the Staircase’), a little soiling, one or two stains, one leaf with marginal tear, folding to 4to, 1933. (7)
est. £80 – £120
Published by George Harrap in an edition of 525 copies.
A typed note with the set states, “Of these proofs with part text, three sets were drawn when the book was being set up. Of these three: Harper [sic] retained one set for himself, sent one set to his father-in-law...and one to George Moore.This was the last book Moore was able to see published, and he said that only the extreme beauty of the engravings kept sufficient life in him to do it. In fact, he never saw the edition completed...The engraving of the Cock on the Key was said by the Print Department in the British Museum to be one of the finest engravings they had seen, and they purchased the original block from Gooden, for the museum, where it is still to be seen.”