KEEPSAKE

[The Curwen Press, Plaistow.] Two keepsakes: [Basil Harley, James Shurmer] ‘Unicornucopia: A study of the Natural History of the amazing Unicorns living at The Curwen Press’ and [Basil Harley, John Miles] ‘The Curwen Press / A Short History’.

Author: 
The Curwen Press, Plaistow [Basil Hurley, John Miles, James Shurmer]
Curwen
Publication details: 
Unicornucopia: Dated in text to 1973. 'Booklet designed by / James Shurmer / printed at / The Curwen Press / London E13 9HJ'. 'The Curwen Press / A Short History' with final section dated 'August 1970'.
£120.00
Curwen

Two attractive pieces of Curwen Press ephemera. 'Cornucopia' is scarce: no copy at the British Library, and the only two copies on JISC at Lancaster and Aberystwyth. The 'Short History' is better represented. ONE: 'Cornucopia'. 12pp, landscape 12mo. Stapled into illustrated wraps. Printed in brown on cream paper. Booklet designed by James Shurmer, with text by Basil Harley. Many illustrations of unicorns arranged in eight 'plates'. Internally in good condition, but front cover grubby, and blank back cover stained. TWO: 'The Curwen Press / A Short History'. 39pp, small 4to.

[William Jerdan, editor of ‘The Literary Gazette’.] Autograph Letter Signed (to the annual’s editor Thomas K. Hervey?), regarding the reviewing of ‘Friendship’s Offering’ and ‘Mr Kennedy’s Volume of genuine poetry’.

Author: 
William Jerdan (1782-1869), Scottish journalist and antiquary, for thirty-four years editor of ‘The Literary Gazette’ [Thomas K. Hervey, editor of ‘Friendship’s Offering?]
Publication details: 
‘Grove House Brompton 20. Oct.’ [no year]
£80.00

An interesting letter, casting light on the workings of Victorian literary criticism. See his entry in the Oxford DNB. The subject of the letter, ‘Friendship’s Offering’, was one of the four great nineteenth-century London ‘gift books’, appearing between the 1820s and the 1840s, for some of the period at least under the editorship of Thomas K. Hervey. 1p, 4to. In good condition, lightly aged, with thin neat strip of windowpane mount adhering to edges. Folded four times for postage. Thirteen lines of text. Signed ‘W. Jerdan’, with recipient (‘Dear Sir’) not named.

[ David Macbeth Moir, the 'Delta' of Blackwood's Magazine. ] Autograph Letter in the third person to 'Mr Marshall', i.e. the London publisher William Marshall, praising the keepsake 'The Pledge of Friendship', to which he is a contributor.

Author: 
D. M. Moir [ David Macbeth Moir ] (1798-1851) of Musselburgh, Scottish physician and writer, the 'Delta' of Blackwood's Magazine [ William Marshall, London publisher ]
Publication details: 
Musselburgh [ Scotland ]. 15 December 1827.
£150.00

1p., 4to. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn, with traces of stub adhering to blank reverse. The letter begins: 'Mr Moir presents compts to Mr Marshall and returns best thanks for the two copies of the Pledge of Friendship, one of which he delivered as directed to H. M. who requests me in his name to return his acknowledgements. | Mr M.

[ Gerald Bullett, author and broadcaster. ] Christmas card containing his poem 'White Frost', signed by him and printed by James Guthrie's Pear Tree Press.

Author: 
Gerald Bullett (1893-1958), writer and broadcaster; his wife Rosalind Bullett [ Edith Marion Rosalind Barker, née Gould ] (1887-1982) [ James Guthrie, The Pear Tree Press, Bognor Regis ]
Publication details: 
'This is one of 75 copies of White Frost a copyright poem by Gerald Bullett printed by James Guthrie at The Pear Tree Press Flansham Bognor Regis December 1936'. [ The Old Farm, East Harting, Sussex. ]
£180.00

On piece of laid paper folded twice to make a 19 x 14 cm. card. In good condition, with light signs of age. Tiny printer's device on back cover the only illustration. Front cover in black ink reads: 'Christmas Greetings from Rosalind & Gerald Bullett The Old Farm East Harting Sussex'. Colophon in brown ink on left-hand side of opening. Right-hand opening carries the sixteen-line poem, in four four-line stanzas, the first of which reads: 'I went to the window, where the morning was, | And saw innocence scattered on the grass.

[ Ye Sette of Odd Volumes, London literary dining club. ] Two pieces of ephemera: 1920s invitation form in envelope, printed in characteristic style in red and black; and handbill regarding 'Ladies' Night | April 24th, 1928'.

Author: 
[ Ye Sette of Odd Volumes, London literary dining club; Margot MacGibbon; Mirian Duncan; Admiral Sir Arthur Cavenagh Leveson ]
Publication details: 
[ Ye Sette of Odd Volumes, London. ] Invitation from the 1920s; handbill relating to meeting on 24 April 1928.
£50.00

ONE: Invitation. Tastefully printed in red and black on one side of an 11.5 x 15 cm piece of card. The club's monogram in a red square in top left-hand corner. Headed: 'YE SETTE OF ODD VOLUMES | United once a month to form a Perfect Sette | Object: Conviviality and Mutual Admiration.' The form, which has not been filled in, invites the recipient to one of the Tuesday meetings at the Imperial Restaurant, No. 7 Glasshouse Street, Regent Street. In envelope with circular 'Odd Volumes' device in red on flap.

[ Privately printed memorial keepsake. ] Frederic William Goudy | Art Director to the Lanston Monotype Machine Company, 1920-1939, Typographic Counsel, 1939-1947. [ With advertisement for Bay Path Cover paper, in 'The authentic Goudy face'. ]

Author: 
[ Frederic William Goudy; Lanston Monotype Machine Company, Philadelphia; Bruce Rogers ]
Publication details: 
Privately printed. Philadelphia, 1947.
£35.00

16pp., 4to. Stapled into light brown wraps, with 'GOUDY' nicely printed in dark brown decorative letters on front cover. In fair condition lightly aged and creased. Inscribed in a small calligraphic hand at foot of front cover to 'DE fr. WGT [W G Thomson?] xi.48'. A well-printed item, with two pages carrying photographs of Goudy, a six-page 'Appreciation', two pages of 'Goudy Monotype Faces', and the final page carrying an 'appreciation' of Goudy by Bruce Rogers, ending 'He worked to the last, and he died at the zenith of his powers.

[ Double Crown Club keepsake. ] 'Bill of Fare' for dinner at the Cafe Royal (chaired by John Johnson with a paper by James Guthrie), featuring a facsimile score for 'Grace after Meat | A new round' by Daniel George and Hubert Foss.

Author: 
The Double Crown Club; John de Monins Johnson (1882-1956), Oxford University Press printer; James Guthrie; Duncan Williams; Daniel George; Hubert Foss
Publication details: 
Pencil note stating that the item is for a dinner at the Café Royal, 7 March 1934.
£120.00

16 x 20 cm booklet, consisting of a bifolium stitched with black green thread into covers of thicker paper. In fair condition, aged and worn, with remains of clear plastic front covering. On the front cover is a heavily-inked art photograph superimposing an image of a musical score over the edges of an fanned-out signature. On the inside of the back cover is a facsimile of a calligraphic inscription in Latin, in Renaissance style. The inner contents consists of two facsimiles.

[ The Double Crown Club. ] Illustrated menu for the 35th dinner of the Double Crown Club (chaired by Thomas Balston and with a paper delivered by Stanley Morison), at the Cafe Royal, London.

Author: 
The Double Crown Club, dining club and society of printers, London; Thomas Balston; Stanley Morison (1889-1967), typographer; The Times of London
Publication details: 
Printed in the offices of The Times, Printing House Square, London, EC4. 8 December 1932.
£80.00

Printed in black on a 45 x 28 cm piece of white card, folded twice to make a 22.5 x 14 cm bifolium. When opened out the card has the printing details and 'THE 35TH DINNER' on the otherwise blank reverse. Aged and worn. The outer covers of the card, opening out to 45 x 14 cm, carry a reversed photograph of a Miller & Richard chase, with form featuring the words 'DOUBLE CROWN CLUB'.

[ The Rowfant Club, Cleveland, Ohio. ] Illustrated invitation to 'An exhibition of American and Foreign Book-Plates from the collection of Mr. Charles Dexter Allen, Honorary American Secretary of The Ex Libris Society, London.' Signed by F. H. Baer.

Author: 
Frank H. Baer (1864-1940), American book collector and member of the Rowfant Club of Cleveland, Ohio [ Charles Dexter Allen; The Ex Libris Society, London; bookplates ]
Publication details: 
'Rowfant Club | 255 Erie St' [Cleveland, Ohio]. 'January 21 to 24, 1895. | Evenings 7.30 to 10.'
£60.00

12 x 8.5 cm. Bifolium. Printed in red and black on thick watermarked deckle-edged laid paper. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Engraving in black ink on recto of first leaf, incorporating the words 'Rowfant Club' and '255 Erie St', showing a back-view of a man in a chair seated at a table, spreading open a large volume containing ''BOOK-PLATES'. Text on recto of second volume, printed in black and red, with the printed words 'Compliments of' followed by the autograph signature of 'F. H. Baer'.

[Printed keepsake.] Poem by Austin Dobson, titled 'Henry Fielding. Unveiling by the United States Minister, the Hon. J. Russell Lowell, of the Bust in the Shire Hall, Taunton. Sculptor, Miss Margaret Thomas.'

Author: 
Austin Dobson [Henry Austin Dobson] (1840-1921), English poet and essayist [Henry Fielding, novelist; James Russell Lowell (1819-1891), essayist and American ambassador in London; Margaret Thomas]
Publication details: 
Place not stated [London?]. September 1883.
£135.00

4pp., 12mo. Paginated to 4. Bifolium. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper. On laid paper watermarked 'A PIRIE & SONS | 1883'. Tastefully printed.

[Rudyard Kipling.] Printed keepsake by C. W. Parish, titled 'Mrs. Fleming's Visit', describing a visit in 1945 by Kipling's sister Ann Margaret Fleming to his home (Bateman's in Burwash)

Author: 
C. W. Parish, Bateman's, Burwash, Sussex [Rudyard Kipling; The Kipling Society; T. O'B. Horsford, photographer]
Publication details: 
Printed by The Medici Society Ltd., London. [Introductory note by Parish dated 'Christmas, 1945 | Bateman's | Burwash, Sussex.']
£40.00

8pp., landscape 12mo. Saddle-stitched into light-brown printed wraps. In good condition, lightly-aged. A tasteful production, with two full-page illustrations by 'T. O'B. Horsford', captioned 'Bateman's' and 'The Hall'. Introductory note by Parish, inside the front cover: 'The following article was written for the Kipling Society's Journal and is here printed by courtesy of its Editor.' The piece begins: 'It was not long after our arrival in 1940 as the tenants of Bateman's that we learnt that Mr.

[Nathaniel Thomas Haynes Bayly, poet.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Thomas Haynes Bayly') to Alaric Watts, expressing a desire to have work in the Literary Souvenir, 'either as a Poet or a Proser'.

Author: 
Nathaniel Thomas Haynes Bayly (1797-1839), poet and playwright [Alaric Alexander Watts (1797-1864), poet and editor of the Literary Souvenir, 1825-1835]
Publication details: 
'5 Wyndham Place [London] | Tuesday -' [no date]
£90.00

2pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, on lightly aged and worn paper. He would have called on him 'had weather permitted', as he wished to show him the item he is enclosing now (not present) before 'leaving Town next Monday week'. 'I wish to be sure of my footing in the Souvenir, either as a Poet or a Proser. [...] Do you like the enclosed? Shall you print my prose tale do you wish it altered? or do you reject it altogether, if the latter pray let me have it again as soon as convenient'. He concludes with 'best compliments to Mrs. Watts in which Mrs. Bayly unites'.

[Printed keepsake, with two illustrations.] In thankful Commemoration of the 90th Birthday of The Dowager Lady Barrow, January 5th, 1900. Printed by one who owes much to her loving spiritual help and letters when he was an Eton Boy in 1845.

Author: 
'W.B.-M.' [Rev. William Bramley-Moore] [Rosamond Hester Elizabeth (1810-1906), Lady Barrow, daughter of William Pennell and adopted daughter of John Wilson Croker; Sir Thomas Lawrence; G.F. Zink]
Publication details: 
'W.B.-M., 26 R. Sq., [i.e. William Bramley-Moore, 26 Russell Square, London] Jan. 6th, 1900.'
£250.00

4pp., ,4to. Bifolium. Printed in gold on shiny art paper, with the two illustrations in black. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. The recto of the first leaf carries a memoir of Lady Barrow, 'Reproduced, by permission, from "The Surrey Comet," Dec. 25, 1899.': 'LADY BARROW - nee Rosamond Hester Elizabeth, daughter of the late William Pennell, Esq., Consul-General in Brazil - was born January 5th, 1810, and was the twenty-first child of her parents. Six weeks after her birth she became the adopted daughter of the Right Hon. John Wilson Croker, who had married her eldest sister.

Printed keepsake, with 'An Old-Time Greeting' and a large swastika on the cover, containing a poem by 'J. S. M.' titled 'The Rune of the Swastika.'

Author: 
'J. S. M.' [swastika; gammadion; Fascism; the Nazis; Nazism]
Publication details: 
Without place or date. [Early twentieth-century.]
£120.00

On a 12mo bifolium of laid paper with 'DUNEDIN NOTE' watermark. Good, on lightly-aged paper. On the cover are a large black swastika and the words 'An Old-Time Greeting.' The poem, titled 'The Rune of the Swastika.' and signed in type 'J. S. M.', is on the recto of the second leaf.

Keepsake, designed by Bram de Does and with text by John Dreyfus, presented to the members of The Wynken de Worde Society, and featuring a facsimile of a 1947 letter in English by Jan van Krimpen.

Author: 
Jan van Krimpen; John Dreyfus; Bram de Does; Offsetdrukkerij Jan de Jong, Amsterdam; The Wynkyn de Worde Society
Keepsake, designed by Bram de Does and with text by John Dreyfus
Publication details: 
One of 250 copies 'printed by Offsetdrukkerij Jan de Jong, Amsterdam. | Presented to the members of The Wynknyn de Worde Society on the occasion of the International Luncheon Meeting 21 September 1995.'
£56.00
Keepsake, designed by Bram de Does and with text by John Dreyfus

8vo, 3 pp. Bifolium on laid paper. Fair, aged and lightly-creased. 'Composed in Lexicon, designed by Bram de Does in 1992. 250 copies printed by Offsetdrukkerij Jan de Jong, Amsterdam. | Presented to the members of The Wynknyn de Worde Society on the occasion of the International Luncheon Meeting 21 September 1995.' The facsimile of the letter, by 'Jan', dated 'Heemstede 12 March 1947', is on both sides of the first leaf. Biograpical printed text by Dreyfus on recto of second leaf, the verso of which is blank.

Autograph Letter Signed to Lord Harmsworth, presenting a copy of ' "Ye Pepys Journall" 1665-1954', containing a 'List of Portraits Commissioned and Painted', and biographical information, including an account of the her bookselling mother.

Author: 
Margaret Grose, artist [Samuel Pepys; Samuel Johnson; Cecil Harmsworth, 1st Baron Harmsworth; Francis Grose]
Publication details: 
Letter: 2 June 1955; addressed from ' "Ye Pepys Journall", 37. St Martin's Court, W.C.2.' Journal: 'C. E. Gray, Kennington, London'
£56.00

Letter: 12mo, 2 pp. Bifolium. Good, on aged paper, with small rust stain at head from paperclip. She is writing to Harmsworth ('President, Dr Johnson's House') to ask him to accept a copy of 'my Journal in which mention is made of my Portrait of Dr Samuel Johnson which hangs in the Garrett of Dr Samuel Johnson house this was presented by H. B. Wheatley whom I knew for many years.' On a visit to the curator of Johnson's house she was 'pleased to see the picture still hands in its original place'.

Address. Delivered at St. Clement Danes on 13th December, 1926 [Samuel Johnson Anniversary]

Author: 
R. W. Chapman [Cecil Harmsworth, 1st Baron Harmsworth; Samuel Johnson; Johnsoniana]
Publication details: 
London. 1927.
£56.00

4to bifolium. The text, in small print, covers the final three pages. On aged and foxed paper. Inscribed, at the head of the title, 'from R. W. C.' The recipient was Cecil Harmsworth, who has written in pencil, beneath the inscription: 'C H | 26/ii/ 1927'. (Harmsworth was the proprietor of the Johnson house, which he had bought in 1911.) Scarce: no copy in the British Library, and the only copy on COPAC at Oxford.

Two Christmas keepsakes: 'Literary Characters', with drawings by Edwin Baker; and 'Imaginary Conversations', with cover design by Hans Tisdall.

Author: 
Jonathan Cape Limited, London publishers [Edwin Baker; Hans Tisdall; Alden Press, Oxford]
Publication details: 
Literary Characters': 1954, 'Printed in the City of Oxford at the Alden Press on paper mould-made supplied by Spalding & Hodge Ltd.' 'Imaginary Conversations', 1956, 'Printed in Great Britain in the City of Oxford at the Alden Press'.
£50.00

Literary Characters'. 12mo (leaf dimensions roughly 18 x 12.5 cm): 32 pp. Stitched with brown thread. Fore-edge and top-edge rough. Unbound as issued. Very good. Cartoon in red ink of man seated at typewriter on front cover, and another, in black ink, of a hatted-figure skulking away with a walking stick held behind his back on back cover. Initial note, with publisher's colophon, on p.2: 'This series of Literary Characters appeared in Now & Then numbers 77-87 and is here reprinted by Jonathan Cape Limited for their friends | Christmas 1954'.

I Want! I Want! Printed, not Published, for the Friends of A. Edward Newton.

Author: 
A. Edward Newton, American book collector of 'Oak Knoll', Daylesford, Pennsylvania
Publication details: 
Christmas, 1932.
£45.00

12mo: [ii] + 14 pp. Unpaginated. Frontispiece of Blake's celebrated print. Internally tight on lightly-aged and grubby paper, and with the reverse of the frontispiece slightly discoloured. Staples a little rusty. In grubby white wraps. A signed presentation copy. Boldly written on the front wrap: 'Lawrence Binyon C.H. with the compliments of [signed] H. Edward Newton'. A characteristic production by the boisterous author of 'The Amenities of Book-Collecting'. At end: 'A. EDWARD NEWTON | "Oak Knoll" | Daylesford, Berwyn P.O., | Pennsylvania'.

Memorial keepsake obituary of 'Jane Bissell Grabhorn 1911-1973' by David Magee.

Author: 
David Magee (1905-1977), San Francisco bookseller of English extraction [Jane Bissell Grabhorn; Grabhorn Press; Book Club of California; Andrew Hoyem; Frederic W. Goudy; Lawton & Alfred Kennedy]
Publication details: 
November 1973. [California.]
£38.00

8vo bifolium on good wove paper. Leaf dimensions roughly 22.5 x 14.5 cm. Good, on lightly creased paper. Illustration of horse, 7.5 x 9 cm, on recto of first leaf, with 'JANE BISSELL GRABHORN | 1911-1973'. Memorial, with same title, across inner pages, signed in type by Magee. The following on reverse of second leaf: 'This memorial is presented to the members of the Book Club of California by Andrew Hoyem, who composed the text in Friar, a type given to Jane by its designer, Frederic W. Goudy, and by Lawton & Alfred Kennedy, who did the press work, Nov. 1973.'

Keepsake poem entitled 'Lines written for the dinner of the Book Publishers' Representatives' Association. October 4th, 1929.'

Author: 
E. V. Lucas [The Book Publishers' Representatives' Association; Methuen & Co.]
Publication details: 
[1929.]
£35.00

12mo: 8 pp. Dimensions of leaf roughly 13.5 x 11 cm. Lightly-spotted and creased, in creased and worn original purple wraps with title printed on front, and stitched with matching purple thread. An uncommon piece of Lucas and book trade ephemera, nicely printed. Beneath the title: 'President. W. J. Crawley. Principal Guests of the Evening. Sir Godfrey Collins, M.P. Edgar Wallace. E. V. Lucas. H. E.

Autograph Letter Signed ('Alaric Watts') [to Mr Limbird?].

Author: 
Alaric Watts [Alaric Alexander Watts] (1797-1864), English journalist and poet [keepsakes; The Literary Souvenir]
Publication details: 
28 November 1828; 58 Torrington Square, London.
£56.00

4to, 1 p. On aged, creased apper, but with text clear and entire. A small piece of paper from a bottom corner has been torn away in opening the letter, and is still present on the reverse, under a red wax seal bearing a clear impression of a lyre and the words 'Addolcire ed Maturare'. Brief communication apologising for the fact that the Literary Souvenir has not reached him sooner. 'The omission is the sin of my booksellers and not mine'. He is sending a copy with the letter, and asks him to accept his thanks, 'for your courtesy'.

Autograph Letter Signed to the poet, journalist and editor Alaric A[lexander]. Watts (1797-1864).

Author: 
Thomas Haynes Bayly (1797-1839), English poet and song writer.
Publication details: 
Friday [no date]; 5 Wyndham Place, London.
£56.00

Two pages, quarto. Very good, on lightly aged and creased paper. He is sorry that he has not been able to 'become personally acquainted with' Watts since coming to town, but will 'very soon make another attempt', hoping to find him at home.

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