BURTON, Robert (1577-1640) [Author]; NONESUCH PRESS [Publisher]; KAUFFER, E. McKnight (1890-1954) [Illustrator]. The Anatomy Of Melancholy What It Is, With All The Kinds Causes, Symptomes, Prognostickes, & Several Cures Of It. In Three Partitions, With Their Several Sections, Members And Sublections, Philosophically, Medicinally, Historically, Opened & Cut Up by Democritus Junior with a Satyricall Preface. London: Nonesuch Press 1925 [this edition is reprinted without the notes from the 6th edition, corrected and augmented by the author]  Limited Edition number 108 of 750 copies. 

Two Volumes. Folio. xv [i], 299p, [v]; [viii], 301-588, [viii]. Half parchment vellum spines with red, black and white Italian paper covering the remainder of the boards. Gold gilt lettering and stars indicating volume number on the spine. Very Good.

A book so significant we named ourselves after it! The Anatomy of Melancholy is the defining work on depression, initially published in 1621, its some 500,000 words are regarded as compassing not only all medical aspects of depression but also providing philosophical perspectives and a contextual landscape that keeps the reader both amused and engaged. It is a fascinating read, from the satirical introduction at the beginning of the text, all the way through the semi ‘stream of consciousness’ style writing Burton engages.

Of all the editions of The Anatomy of Melancholy, we feel this is the most beautiful. McKnight’s illustrations illuminate and update the text, giving it a modern and grand feeling that compliments the work beautifully. The choice of paper and binding materials simply amplifies the illustrations and typesetting - we could stare at this copy for hours.