Cobden-Sanderson and the Doves Press: The History of the Press and the Story of Its Types Told by Alfred W. Pollard the Character of the Man Set Forth by His Faithful Scribe Edward Johnston with the Ideal Book or Book Beautiful by Thomas James Cobden-Sanderson and a list of the Doves Press Printings.
San Francisco: Printed by John Henry Nash, 1929. Hardcover. 4to. Full vellum over boards with raised bands and gilt spine lettering and rules, blue paper-over-boards slipcase. Yapped edges. xviii, 35pp. Top edge gilt. Near fine/very good. Book is tight and bright, while slipcase shows mild wear and age toning. Item #52233
Superb copy of one of Nash's most handsome productions, his tribute to the influential English artist and bookbinder Thomas James Cobden-Sanderson, whose book "The Ideal Book or Book Beautiful" Nash had printed in 1916. Rear colophon notes an edition of 339 copies, and "The type used is Cloister Lightface, a recutting of Nicolas Jenson's Roman letter, by Morris Fuller Benton, who also cut the accompanying Italic." It further notes that "Inserted in each copy is a leaf of Doves Press printing, twenty-seven of which are Vellum" -- this being copy #15 of those 27 with a vellum leaf insert at front. This copy bears the pristine opening text page from Cobden-Sanderson's 1913 edition of William Shakespeare's "Tragedie of Julius Caesar," of which they produced 200 copies on paper and 15 on vellum. A bright and spectacular copy. Laid in is an original printed envelope with printed order card for this title (likely the limp vellum edition with paper Cobden-Sanderson sample page) and also the 4to prospectus for this title, a lovely production in stiff blue wrappers bearing the Zamorano Club of Los Angeles bookplate (with "Gift of John Henry Nash" typed on it) inside the front wrapper. Of these 27 Nash copies with a vellum leaf, only about half a dozen have come to market over the past half century, the last being Haven O'More's The Garden Limited copy in 2019. O'DAY 68-69.
Price: $2,000.00