Square octavo. 424 pp. This production of Morris's lengthy allegorical fantasy of Gothic tribes in the Italian alps set in a romantic and vaguely medieval setting marked a pivotal moment in his transition from author to book designer. Having grown dissatisfied with the typography of his previous books published by Reeves & Turner, Morris had more of a hand in the design of The Roots of the Mountains, which featured a more balanced page layout, as well as the use of shoulder notes instead of headlines. Morris had Whatman produce specially made paper for the "Superior Edition" of 250 copies. The result, Fiona MacCarthy notes, "sent Morris into ecstasies, " and set in motion his plans for "turning printer ... in a small way" (608). Many of these design conceits would find their way into Kelmscott Press books that Morris began printing the year after this work appeared. Some copies, such as the present example, were bound by the publisher in Morris & Co. "Honeysuckle" floral patterned chintz with gilt titling on spine. Stabilizing repairs to spine ends, otherwise a nearly fine copy of a binding that seldom presents thus.