William Morris Archive

For a list of Morris's illuminated manuscripts of his translations and other works, see William Whitla, Appendix A: "William Morris's Calligraphic Manuscripts," 80-95, in"'Sympathetic Translation' and the 'Scribe's Capacity': Morris's Calligraphy and the Icelandic Sagas." Journal of Pre-Raphaelite Studies 10 (Fall 2001): 27-108.

An additional list of Morris's illuminated manuscripts and a note on these manuscripts, both by Alfred Fairbank, may be found in The Story of Kormak the Son of Ogmund, by William Morris and Eirikr Magnusson, with an Introduction by Grace J. Calder and a Note on the manuscript work of William Morris by Alfred Fairbank. William Morris Society, 1970. See "A Note on the Manuscript Work of William Morris," Alfred Fairbank, 53-64; "An Annotated List of the Manuscript Work of William Morris," Alfred Fairbank, 65-69.

Fragment of The Aeneid, Society of Antiquaries, calligraphic trial, Book I, lines 34-89, f. 1 and 1v.

*Unpublished

  1. *Tale of Haldor (beginning fragment), calligraphic manuscript. Mark Samuels Lasner Collection. Also B. L., Add. Ms 45,317, f. 29.
  2. * Fragment of beginning for Hallbiorn the Strong
  3. A calligraphic manuscript of the Story of the Ynglings from the Heimskringla Saga is at the Society of Antiquaries library, Burlington House.
  4. King Harald, incomplete calligraphic manuscript is in the Bodleian Library, Oxford, Bodl. Ms. Eng. misc. d. 265.
  5. The Story of Hen Thorir, calligraphic manuscript at the Bodleian Library, Oxford, Bodl. Ms. Eng. misc. d. 266. Also a calligraphic manuscript at the Fitzwilliam Museum Library, Cambridge, Ms. 27 ff. 1-56 and versos. This ms. was given to Georgiana Burne-Jones and donated by her to the Fitzwilliam Museum, 1909. A note says "Hen Thorir," "The Story of the Banded Men," and "Haward the Halt" were written in 1875.
  6. The Story of the Banded Men, calligraphic manuscript at the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, Ms. 270, ff. 58-151 and versos. A note says "Hen Thorir," "The Story of the Banded Men," and "Haward the Halt" were written in 1875.
  7. The Story of Haward the Halt, calligraphic manuscript at the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, Ms. 270, ff. 162-240. A note says "Hen Thorir," "The Story of the Banded Men," and "Haward the Halt" were written in 1875.
  8. Original Poem, "A Gloss in rhyme on the story of Haward, by William Morris," inserted by Morris into calligraphic manuscript after "The Story of Howard the Halt," Fitzwilliam MS. 270, 241-243v; see Poems of the Earthly Paradise Period, C-71.
  9. The Story of Harald: Kenneth Goodwin’s Handlist (1983) lists a calligraphic manuscript as in the possession of John M. Crawford, Jr. of NY. Completed around 1871.
  10. The Story of Egil Son of Scaldgrim, calligraphic manuscript, Society of Antiquaries library, Burlington House.
  11. Hafbur and Signy, incomplete
  12. King Hafbur and King Siward, incomplete calligraphic manuscript; Bodleian Library, Oxford Ms. Eng. misc. e. 233/2
  13. Story of Sigi, incomplete
  14. The Story of Halfdan the Black
  15. Thorstein and Gunnlaug, incomplete.
  16. * “Tristram” ( For the pricking on and moving of the hearts of noble folk to live gloriously and virtuously . . . . ) B. L. MS. 45,329, ff. ii + 99 c. 1870, unfinished
  17. * The Lancelot du Lac, 2 vols. calligraphic mss., 2 vols. rough draft, unfinished. 2 vols. revised text in calligraphic mss. Society of Antiquaries library, Burlington House.
  18. "Lancelot du Lac," 8 ff., 7 with versos. Cheltenham Library, EWL Z2: 1991.1016.996. Z2, in Rubaiyat calligraphic script; fair copy with spaces for large initials.
  19. The Story of the Men of Weaponfirth (unpublished fragment). Fair copy in 'Italian' script, titled in red ink, "The Story of the Men of Weaponfirth/ Chap 1: Brodd Helgi slayeth Swart." Cheltenham Library and Wilson Art Gallery, Y7, ff. 1-18, calligraphic ms. both sides.
  20. Laxdaela Saga (unpublished fragment), B. L. Add. Ms. 45,317, ff. 29-44 (rectos only); paraphrase of portion of Laxdaela Saga, entitled on an envelope "Abstract of Story of Gudrun from Laxdaela," and annotated in an unidentified hand '(not to be inclued),' untitled and beginning "Kiarton son of Olaf Peacock lives at his father's house of Herdholt . . . " 6 pages, 3 leaves, numbered 1, 3, 5 on the rectos only; watermarked 1867. William Morris Gallery, Walthamstow, MS J154.
  21. *The Tale of Norn-Guest. Morris's translation of the Icelandic "Nornagests Dattr.' B. L. Add. Ms. 45,317, ff. 19-28 (rectos only).