Spenser

1923 · réf. ST21078 — Chelsea: Ashendene Press 1923. ST JOHN HORNBY'S WORKSHOP COPY there were 180 paper copies 150 of them for sale and 12 vellum copies of this edition. 440 x 307 mm. 17 1/4 x 12". 2 p.l. 406 2 pp. Original holland-backed blue paper boards flat spine with paper title label identifying this as a workshop copy. Housed in a fine modern drop-back box of blue cloth backed with holland paper labels on spine. Printer's device in colophon. Printed in red black and blue. Front pastedown with bookplate of St John Hornby and ex-libris of David Godine. Hornby 32; Franklin pp. 144-46 240-41. Covers with fading along the top a bit of foxing and extensive though light gray discoloration ends of spine lightly bumped and lower edges of bottom corners slightly rubbed both as expected but the volume completely solid and miles away from what one would imagine for a hefty book like this that would have been expected to incur uncareful use. Isolated very pale foxing and the most trivial signs of use internally. A REMARKABLE COPY the text in beautiful condition soundly protected in its unique binding. With its companion volume "Minor Poems" by Spenser this in Franklin's eyes is the "masterpiece" among the Ashendene folios; and the present distinctive--and presumably unique--copy comes from Charles Harry St John Hornby's own printer's workshop. Unlike most other copies which are typically found in the publisher's calf-backed vellum binding this copy is in the inexpensive and less substantial holland-backed boards that are now less and less commonly seen in large part because they have not stood up well over the years. The present copy somehow has done quite the opposite. In addition to the original Ashendene "Workshop Copy" designation on the spine label scattered finger smudges--perhaps those of Hornby himself--suggest its use in the printer's studio. In our experience this particular designation is extremely rare in connection with private press books in general and certainly for Ashendene volumes. Founded in 1895 by Hornby 1867-1946 the Ashendene Press issued 40 books plus additional minor pieces for four decades. Less elaborate in appearance and design than William Morris' Kelmscott volumes but more ornamental than the products of Cobden-Sanderson's Doves Press the Ashendene volumes have long been considered the most satisfying of English private press books. This volume was formerly in the collection of David R. Godine who founded the Godine Press in 1970 after training with printmaker Leonard Baskin and master printer Harold McGrath. Ashendene Press unknown