Pages from Presses II. Golden Cockerel, Gregynog, Shakespeare Head, Curwen Nosesuch, Haslewood Books & Cresset.
Risbury: Whittington Press, 2022. Two volumes. 11 x 15. 138 pages plus tipped-in 27 original leaves double leaves, most with illustrations. A large fold-out page displays pressmarks of the various presses, printed on Batchelor's Crown and Sceptre paper. Full green morocco in tray case with a separate portfolio containing a further 26 "leaves" --many double or larger and some with illustrations. The tray case is velvet-lined cloth, with a spine length morocco label. As new. Item #18986
Copy XXIII of the "A Edition" copies (45 copies). There were also 40 copies numbered i-xl; and 95 copies numbered 1-95. Each version has a different binding and a different number of original leaves.
This survey of the major British private presses and fine publishers between the First and Second World Wars is complemented by original leaves from the books that they produced. The leaves demonstrate the range of type designs used, the formats and typographic design of the pages, quality of inking and impression, the range of hand- and mould-made papers used, the initials and decorative devices employed, and the way in which wood-engravings and other illustrations are combined with the texts of the books. David Butcher's commentary about each Press concentrates particularly on the books from which the specimen leaves are taken.
This book gives collectors the feel of the actual pages from these presses in a way no reproduction can achieve, demonstrating clearly the quality of work of each. The leaves are tipped onto guards so that each side is readily accessible and can be turned naturally." Perfect for book arts and book history classes.
The British fine presses of the 1920s and 1930s produced some of the most exciting books published in this country. They were able to take advantage of the typographic renaissance of the period, the skills of the best printers and typographers, and the huge range of new typefaces introduced by Monotype and individual foundries. At the same time there was a resurgence of the art of wood-engraving with new generations of artist-engravers emerging from the art schools, stencil-colouring briefly flourished at the Curwen Press and other autographic methods of book illustration were integrated into books. The talents of artists such as Eric Gill, Eric Ravilious, Agnes Miller Parker, Robert Gibbings, McKnight Kauffer, Edward Wadsworth, Rex Whistler and many others were employed in illustrating or decorating the fine books of the period. (From the Prospectus).
Price: $5,400.00