Futura

BAUERSCHE GIESSEREI Futura. Nach zeichnungen von Paul Renner in zwanzig Garnituren geschnitten. [Together with:] Futura. Anwendungen. Frankfurt a.M.: n.d. [c.1955]. 2 vols. 4to. Pp.[24], paperback, sewn, and a printed card portfolio containing 28 loose specimens of the type in use.  (Stock ref 2275)  Sold.

Samuel Jones & Co., Noncurling Gummed Papers, c.1935

JONES (Samuel) & Co.[Gummed & Coated Paper Makers]: [Cover title:] Noncurling Gummed Papers. [Inner title:] Samples and suggestions for users of gummed papers. London: Bridewell Place EC4, n.d. [c.1935]. Oblong 4to. 7 leaves of prelims & c.100 leaves of specimens, in a variety of weights, colours and finishes, printed rectos only. Gummed papers for every conceivable use in package labelling, advertising and decoration. A striking and unusual trade catalogue in fine condition. Orig. gold, silver and red embossed cloth boards. Slipcase. In orig. mailing box (worn).  (Stock ref 2269) SOLD

Paul Koch, Fritz Arnold and the Fursteneck Press

FURSTENECK (Werkstatt Haus zum) [Paul KOCH & Fritz ARNOLD]: A large collection of printed work, some from the handpress, consisting largely of music printing and diverse jobbing ephemera, together with a few examples of work designed or originated but not printed by the Werkstatt. Frankfurt am Main: 1933-40 (for the most part). 

   Various sizes, from broadsheet to small ex-libris, approx. 100 pieces (including a few duplicates), 61 mounted (including a few pamphlets) on 31 pieces of green card, 30 x 24.5cm, and 39 loose, together with 6 loose pamphlets (five sewn into wrappers), 5 books, cloth or boards (including J.S.Bach, Drei Menuette, printed (and signed) by Paul Koch, the Officina Vindobonensis, Vienna, 1932, for Georg Kallmeyer, Wollfenbuttel-Berlin), and copies of three contemporary periodicals featuring articles by or about Koch, one of which is inscribed by him. The Bach Menuette is lacking its backstrip, two of the other books are a little rubbed, otherwise the collection is in fine condition.

   The collection includes bookplates, handbills, concert programmes, two fine broadside calendars for the years 1936 and 1938, a striking coloured decorative map by Willi Harwerth, and several fine examples of Paul Koch’s music printing, in various formats. Some pieces include signs, decorations or vignettes, some hand-coloured, by Rudolf Koch, Fritz Kredel, Willi Harwerth, Karl Vollmer and others. Most employ types designed by Rudolph Koch or Victor Hammer.

   The core of this collection originated in a visit to Koch in Frankfurt in August 1936 by Vivian Ridler, David Bland and Thea Brown. Ridler and Bland were planning a book on Koch’s work to be published the following year by their (semi-private) Perpetua Press. Unfortunately this project was overtaken by events: first, both men’s need to commence settled careers, Ridler initially as assistant to John Johnson at the University Press, Oxford, Bland as production manager at Faber (both jobs began around April 1937), and then the catastrophe of world war which neither Fritz Arnold nor Paul Koch would survive.

   See Jerry Cinamon, ‘Paul Koch, Master Printer of Music’, and ‘Paul Koch and Fritz Arnold’, The Private Library, 6^th Series, 2:3, Autumn 2009, pp.132-48; 2:4, Winter 2009, pp.170-85. Also Will Carter (another visitor to Koch), ‘It all started in Frankfurt in 1938’, pp.113-15 in ABC-XYZapf, ed. by John Dreyfus & K.Erichson, London, 1989. Sold.

Why you needed your butler to iron your copy of The Times

An original copy of The Times packed for rail and conventional postal delivery. Four copies are available: Monday, June 21, 1897; Monday, December 31, 1900; Tuesday, January 1, 1901; and Monday, February 4, 1901 (original brown wrapper split). Whilst the newsprint is still quite flexible these copies are not offered for opening, which they almost certainly wouldn’t survive, but as extraordinary relics of newspaper transport history. Each £10

Signs of Italy

CLOUGH (James) Signs of Italy. Outdoor lettering up and down the boot. Milan: Lazy Dog Press, 2015. Oblong 4to. Pp. 248. Profusely illustrated. Qtr. cloth. Printed boards. New. A splendid addition to the literature of outdoor lettering, on buildings and elsewhere. Including chapters on historical lettering, tuscans and art nouveau, architectural lettering, shop and cinema signs, lettering in wrought and cast metal, ceramics, etc. Out of print. SOLD

An English renaissance manuscript catechism

Part of a late 16^th or early 17^th century manuscript catechism, Anglican, written in a combination of secretary and ‘italian’ (chancery cursive) hands. Four leaves of parchment, 215 x 155mm, disbound, written both sides. Some fore-edge cracks in the top leaf with a small piece missing from top right-hand corner, with slight loss of text. Principally concerned with the form and conduct of prayer. Part of one of the myriad catechisms devised in this period and not a transcription from the Book of Common Prayer. £50

Ornata

GRICE (John) Typographical Ornata, Et Cetera [a book of typographical ornament]. [Stonehouse:] Evergreen Press, 2016. One of 99 numbered copies only. La.8vo (25 x 17.5cm). Pp. [128]. Printed in a variety of colours. Text hand-set in Romanée printed on white Zerkall mouldmade paper. Including 80 full page colour illustrations. Qtr. japanese vellum, silk sides. Silk slipcase. Out of print. New. ‘A book about, and featuring, printers’ ornament, ornamental types and a wide variety of other decorative elements used in letterpress printing, accompanied by an historically slanted commentary from the author/printer’. SOLD OUT