Lesser Known Fine and Private Press Books
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1teppi2
In the past, I have occasionally posted lesser known fine press books in the Affordable Pleasures and Treasures thread. However, I felt the title of that thread was a bit limiting. While many relatively unknown fine press books can occasionally be found at great prices, not all are readily available inexpensively. Thus I thought I would start a new thread to occasionally display my finds.
Neither my writing nor my photography skills are quite up to par, I lack the encyclopedic fine press knowledge of some other members, and I can be a bit of a miser. The books I will showcase here are usually not in perfect condition and might lack some of the features frequently coveted by collectors, such as beautiful bindings.
However, I hope that these posts can still bring some variety and be of interest to some.
Neither my writing nor my photography skills are quite up to par, I lack the encyclopedic fine press knowledge of some other members, and I can be a bit of a miser. The books I will showcase here are usually not in perfect condition and might lack some of the features frequently coveted by collectors, such as beautiful bindings.
However, I hope that these posts can still bring some variety and be of interest to some.
2teppi2
Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard – F.J Trezise – 1910
When I first saw this book listed, I had never heard of Trezise before, something I assume I share with most folks on this board. After a little bit of research, I discovered that Frederick James Trezise was a lecturer at the Inland Printer Technical School (for the Subjects of Composition, Design and Lettering) and a regular contributor to the Inland Printer Magazine. While he has authored a couple of technical books, this appears to be the only fine press publication.
This is a very small book with a simple cardboard binding. It is limited to 200 copies, and considering that it is quite fragile, I would doubt that all of those are still around. However, the inside is quite wonderful in my humble opinion.
The book is printed on handmade paper, which is watermarked as “The P.M. Co Quality Handmade in Italy”. It is uncut at the top, but the inaccessible inside is not printed (I guess a French Fold). The Frontispiece and the first initial is colored, and every page has a lavish ornamental border.
I purchased to book very inexpensively on ebay, but I hardly find any listings for this title. The Library of Congress appears to be in the possession of a copy.
Cover
Frontispiece
Sample Pages
Page Edge
Colophon
Article on the F J Trezise
From the Inland Printer Magazine, Issue XXXIX (April 1907), page 60
A lot of information on Trezise and his work is published on a blog called Tenth Letter of the Alphabet, and several universities seem to have made old scans of the Inland Printer Magazine publicly available.
When I first saw this book listed, I had never heard of Trezise before, something I assume I share with most folks on this board. After a little bit of research, I discovered that Frederick James Trezise was a lecturer at the Inland Printer Technical School (for the Subjects of Composition, Design and Lettering) and a regular contributor to the Inland Printer Magazine. While he has authored a couple of technical books, this appears to be the only fine press publication.
This is a very small book with a simple cardboard binding. It is limited to 200 copies, and considering that it is quite fragile, I would doubt that all of those are still around. However, the inside is quite wonderful in my humble opinion.
The book is printed on handmade paper, which is watermarked as “The P.M. Co Quality Handmade in Italy”. It is uncut at the top, but the inaccessible inside is not printed (I guess a French Fold). The Frontispiece and the first initial is colored, and every page has a lavish ornamental border.
I purchased to book very inexpensively on ebay, but I hardly find any listings for this title. The Library of Congress appears to be in the possession of a copy.
Cover
Frontispiece
Sample Pages
Page Edge
Colophon
Article on the F J Trezise
From the Inland Printer Magazine, Issue XXXIX (April 1907), page 60
A lot of information on Trezise and his work is published on a blog called Tenth Letter of the Alphabet, and several universities seem to have made old scans of the Inland Printer Magazine publicly available.
3ultrarightist
Very nice. I like the page borders. Is the frontispiece the only illustration?
4teppi2
>3 ultrarightist: Yes, the frontispiece is the only illustration.
7laotzu225
I appreciate your taking the time to show this volume.
I like to find older limited editions that no one else seems to want.
So, I encourage you to continue such postings.
I like to find older limited editions that no one else seems to want.
So, I encourage you to continue such postings.
9teppi2
Virginibus Puerisque and Other Papers – Florence Press - 1910
This book was published by Chatto and Windus for the Florence Press. The publisher and press are much better known than the publisher of my first book in this thread. However I only found one mention on this board, so thought I would add this book here. To the best of my knowledge, the Florence Press was operated by Philip Lee Warner. He was also responsible for the Riccardi Press, and the Florence Press books I have seen bear a close resemblance to Medici Society books.
Virginibus Puerisque is a collection of early essays by Robert Louis Stevenson, many of which were originally published in the Cornhill Magazine. The book was published in 1910, 250 copies were printed on Aldwych Handmade Paper and 12 copies on vellum. The book was bound either in limp vellum or in a Holland binding.
It contains 12 full page collotypes based on watercolors by Normann Wilkinson, who is more known for marine paintings. It is set in the Florence typeface designed by Herbert P Horne, who also designed the much lauded Riccardi typeface used in Medici Society books.
Other books to look out for from the Florence Press include titles such as The Romaunt of the Rose and The Little Flowers of Saint Francis of Assisi.
Binding and Textblock
Pages / Illustrations
This book was published by Chatto and Windus for the Florence Press. The publisher and press are much better known than the publisher of my first book in this thread. However I only found one mention on this board, so thought I would add this book here. To the best of my knowledge, the Florence Press was operated by Philip Lee Warner. He was also responsible for the Riccardi Press, and the Florence Press books I have seen bear a close resemblance to Medici Society books.
Virginibus Puerisque is a collection of early essays by Robert Louis Stevenson, many of which were originally published in the Cornhill Magazine. The book was published in 1910, 250 copies were printed on Aldwych Handmade Paper and 12 copies on vellum. The book was bound either in limp vellum or in a Holland binding.
It contains 12 full page collotypes based on watercolors by Normann Wilkinson, who is more known for marine paintings. It is set in the Florence typeface designed by Herbert P Horne, who also designed the much lauded Riccardi typeface used in Medici Society books.
Other books to look out for from the Florence Press include titles such as The Romaunt of the Rose and The Little Flowers of Saint Francis of Assisi.
Binding and Textblock
Pages / Illustrations
10kdweber
>9 teppi2: Wow, sure looks like a Medici Society book!
11wcarter
>9 teppi2:
Looks beautiful, and there is a full vellum copy on Abe for only US$7500!
Looks beautiful, and there is a full vellum copy on Abe for only US$7500!
12teppi2
>11 wcarter: One of the copies printed on vellum recently sold at auction in Germany for approximately $3,300 including buyers premium (at the sale of the Achilles-Stiftung collection).
Luckily the copies on handmade paper (even in the limp vellum binding) go for a small fraction of this amount. I guess this follows the current trend that the most desirable books increase in price rapidly, while the “second grade” remains very affordable.
Luckily the copies on handmade paper (even in the limp vellum binding) go for a small fraction of this amount. I guess this follows the current trend that the most desirable books increase in price rapidly, while the “second grade” remains very affordable.
13MobyRichard
Speaking of Philip Warner. Anyone happen to have a copy of Vol. 5 of the the Medici Society five volume Plotinus? I have 1-4, but have never been able to find that one stray...except as part of the complete set.
15Lukas1990
>14 teppi2: Love those endpapers! I hope my "sehr gutes Exemplar" will not dissapoint.
16Lukas1990
>14 teppi2: I've just received the book and it is very impressive. I'd say even more impressive than my LEC books printed at the Officina Bodoni/Stamperia Valdonega which I got for a similar price. Savonarole was 78 euros, shipping from Germany included. Time to learn French now!
17teppi2
>16 Lukas1990: I am very glad to hear your purchase worked out so well, the price is roughly in line with what I paid for my copy. International orders are always a bit of a risk in terms of condition, particularly for books with full vellum covers. Even after asking for pictures and a detailed condition report, I have occasionally been disappointed.
