Gill, Eric (illus) The Four Gospels of the Lord Jesus Christ. Folio Society, 2007. Folio (2 vols). Gospels facsimile in full black morocco, upper board blocked in gilt after Gill's design for the living creatures of the Evangelists in a blind-blocked frame, spine lettered directly in gilt, all edges gilt, black marker; Commentary in buckram-backed boards with paper title label on upper board; both in black clamshell box. Limited edition numbered 2740/2750. A deluxe reprint of the legendary Golden Cockerel edition of 1931. The Gospels are widely considered one of the most beautiful books printed in the twentieth century, rivalling the Kelmscott Chaucer and the Doves Bible. They were perhaps the Press' finest production - as well as one of the most successful private press books of the century. One of the contributing factors to the beauty of the book is the holistic design. Robert Gibbings, owner of the Press, would write in the Book Collector (Summer 1953) that he ''would send [Gill] the proofs and on these he would build his designs, fitting his figures to the spaces determined by the type and allowing his fancy to spread into any quarter that offered itself''. That Gill designed images, typeface and layout ensured a rarely-equalled unity of conception. The Commentary comprises John Dreyfus' essay on 'Eric Gill and the Golden Cockerel Type' and Robert Gibbings' 'Memories of Eric Gill' reproduced from The Book Collector. An excellent facsimile of a rare masterpiece.