[Doves Press] | A Group of Four Works

[Doves Press]

A Group of Four Works

Lot includes: 

Emerson, Ralph Waldo. Essays. Hammersmith: The Doves Press, 1906. 4to (235 x 165 mm). A few leaves faintly foxed. Original full limp vellum, spine gilt-lettered; very light soiling to vellum. One of 300 copies printed on paper. Provenance: C.F.J. Beausire (bookplate to upper pastedown) 

Carlyle, Thomas. Sartor Resartus: The Life & Opinions of Herr Teufelsdroeckh. Hammersmith: The Doves Press, 1907. 4to (235 x 165). Printed in red and black, with initials in red designed by Edward Johnston. Original full limp vellum, spine gilt-lettered; a few spots to fore-edge. One of 300 copies printed on paper. 

Milton, John. Paradise Lost. Hammersmith: The Doves Press, 1902. 4to (235 x 165). Printed in red and black. Original full limp vellum, spine gilt-lettered; slight creasing to head of spine. One of 300 copies printed on paper. 

Milton, John. Paradise Regain’d. Hammersmith: The Doves Press, 1905. Printed in red and black. Original full limp vellum, spine gilt-lettered; slight foxing to fore-edge. One of 300 copies printed on paper. Provenance: C.F.J. Beausire (bookplate to upper pastedown) 

(Group lots not subject to return.)

Founded by Sir Emery Walker and bookbinder T.J. Cobden-Sanderson in 1900, The Doves Press books with their beautifully cut typography and the spaciousness of the layouts, were a main inspiration for the revival of private-press printing in the 20th century.

By 1909, Walker and Cobden-Sanderson were embroiled in a long and bitter dispute involving the rights to the Doves Type as they dissolved their partnership. In the dissolution agreement, all rights to the distinctive typeface were meant to pass to Walker upon the death of Cobden-Sanderson. But on Good Friday of 1913, Cobden-Sanderson destroyed the matrices by casting them off Hammersmith Bridge and into the Thames. He began destroying the types in August of 1916, and apparently completed the task in January 1917. Indeed, over the course of about 170 trips, Cobden-Sanders—a small, frail, seventy-six year old man—managed to carry more than a ton of type from 15 Upper Mall to the Thames. In 2015, designer Robert Green—with help from the Port of London Authority—was able to recover 150 pieces of the original type from the waters near Hammersmith Bridge. (See following lot.)

Together four handsome works.