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1dlphcoracl
When Chris Adamson 's wonderful website Books and Vines was active, I would occasionally contribute an article under the header: 'Affordable Treasures and Pleasures', with the intent of featuring wonderful private press books that were very affordable. Yes, it would be nice to add the Bruce Rogers-designed edition of 'The Odyssey of Homer' the Cresset Press 'Gulliver's Travels' with the famous Rex Whistler rococo illustrations, etc., to one's book collection but these books have become prohibitively expensive. Nevertheless, there are a number of very small private presses, usually owned and operated by a single proprietor, that work in relatively obscurity under the radar of many (most?) avid fine and private press book collectors. This post will introduce you to one of them - the Belmont Hall Press - and a splendid edition published two years ago in 2017.
Andrew Ruff is the sole proprietor of Belmont Hall and he is both an artist working in the linocut print medium as well as a very accomplished letterpress printer. Prior to 2017 he had published several small editions, most with soft covers or wraps, but certainly nothing that prepared collectors for the book he published in 2017:
The First Century of Meditations by Thomas Traherne, Belmont Hall, 2017.
Thomas Traherne (1636-1674) was an Oxford-educated young clergyman, theologian and poet. He wrote many of his religious thoughts in the form of short essays which he called "meditations". His religious writing has a wonderful exuberance, naivete, and deep spiritualism and belief in God. His writings are vaguely reminiscent of William Blake and the most famous of his works are known today as the 'Century of Meditations'. This is a collection of the first one hundred of Traherne's brief religious-themed essays.
Traherne died at age 38 y.o. from smallpox and his writings remained unknown and unpublished for over two hundred years, having been bequeathed to his brother Philip following his death. They were rediscovered quite by accident by William T. Brooke in 1896-1897 and were not properly attributed to Traherne until 1902. Subsequently, they were published as 'The Poetical Works of Thomas Traherne' in 1903 and 'Centuries of Meditations' in 1908.
Andrew Ruff has taken the first one-hundred of Traherne's spiritual essays (meditations) and published them in a splendid private press edition, hence the title 'The First Century of Meditations'. As a gifted linocut artist he has also made this a livres d'artiste book featuring 23 of his B&W linocut prints, several of which are printed with addition of a second color (grey or magenta). His prints are semi-abstract in a pleasing manner that complements the spirituality and mysticism of Traherne's writings.
The book is generously-sized at 13 x 8 inches (33 x 20.5 cm), 44 pages of text with 7 additional pages which include blank end sheets, title pages and colophon. Type was cast and set by Judd using True-cut Caslon and the type destroyed following publication. Letterpress work was done on a Ludlow Typograph and printed on a thick Zerkall (mouldmade?) paper. The linocuts were printed directly from the hand-cut lino blocks. Binding is a fine maroon cloth with gilt titling on the spine. The book also comes with a matching maroon dust wrapper with letterpress black titling on the front page and spine, topped off with a thick, well-crafted slipcase covered with a fine black cloth, all done by The Binding Place in Worcester, U.K. Edition was limited to 50 copies.
When I inadvertently stumbled upon this publication, described in glowing terms by another small private press (letterpress) with solo proprietor, I knew this was a book I wanted to add to my collection. The presswork was described as "flawless" and the linocut illustrations were quite appealing. This book is not available at any fine booksellers I know of and I had to contact Andrew Ruff directly to inquire if any copies were still available. Fortunately, I was able to acquire a copy and, indeed, the presswork and reproduction of the linocut prints is top notch.
This book SHOULD have cost somewhere between 400 to 500 GBP ($500-$600) and I was stunned to discover that Judd was selling it for 100 GBP plus shipping. So........ for less than the cost of a deluxe Folio Society book (but NOT a limited edition or letterpress FS book) you can acquire a top tier private press book with letterpress printing, original linocut illustrations, and well-crafted binding and slipcase. Need I say anything more?
If you wish to acquire a copy (if still available) you will need to contact Andrew Judd directly at:
andrewjudd59@aol.com
Photos to follow.
Andrew Ruff is the sole proprietor of Belmont Hall and he is both an artist working in the linocut print medium as well as a very accomplished letterpress printer. Prior to 2017 he had published several small editions, most with soft covers or wraps, but certainly nothing that prepared collectors for the book he published in 2017:
The First Century of Meditations by Thomas Traherne, Belmont Hall, 2017.
Thomas Traherne (1636-1674) was an Oxford-educated young clergyman, theologian and poet. He wrote many of his religious thoughts in the form of short essays which he called "meditations". His religious writing has a wonderful exuberance, naivete, and deep spiritualism and belief in God. His writings are vaguely reminiscent of William Blake and the most famous of his works are known today as the 'Century of Meditations'. This is a collection of the first one hundred of Traherne's brief religious-themed essays.
Traherne died at age 38 y.o. from smallpox and his writings remained unknown and unpublished for over two hundred years, having been bequeathed to his brother Philip following his death. They were rediscovered quite by accident by William T. Brooke in 1896-1897 and were not properly attributed to Traherne until 1902. Subsequently, they were published as 'The Poetical Works of Thomas Traherne' in 1903 and 'Centuries of Meditations' in 1908.
Andrew Ruff has taken the first one-hundred of Traherne's spiritual essays (meditations) and published them in a splendid private press edition, hence the title 'The First Century of Meditations'. As a gifted linocut artist he has also made this a livres d'artiste book featuring 23 of his B&W linocut prints, several of which are printed with addition of a second color (grey or magenta). His prints are semi-abstract in a pleasing manner that complements the spirituality and mysticism of Traherne's writings.
The book is generously-sized at 13 x 8 inches (33 x 20.5 cm), 44 pages of text with 7 additional pages which include blank end sheets, title pages and colophon. Type was cast and set by Judd using True-cut Caslon and the type destroyed following publication. Letterpress work was done on a Ludlow Typograph and printed on a thick Zerkall (mouldmade?) paper. The linocuts were printed directly from the hand-cut lino blocks. Binding is a fine maroon cloth with gilt titling on the spine. The book also comes with a matching maroon dust wrapper with letterpress black titling on the front page and spine, topped off with a thick, well-crafted slipcase covered with a fine black cloth, all done by The Binding Place in Worcester, U.K. Edition was limited to 50 copies.
When I inadvertently stumbled upon this publication, described in glowing terms by another small private press (letterpress) with solo proprietor, I knew this was a book I wanted to add to my collection. The presswork was described as "flawless" and the linocut illustrations were quite appealing. This book is not available at any fine booksellers I know of and I had to contact Andrew Ruff directly to inquire if any copies were still available. Fortunately, I was able to acquire a copy and, indeed, the presswork and reproduction of the linocut prints is top notch.
This book SHOULD have cost somewhere between 400 to 500 GBP ($500-$600) and I was stunned to discover that Judd was selling it for 100 GBP plus shipping. So........ for less than the cost of a deluxe Folio Society book (but NOT a limited edition or letterpress FS book) you can acquire a top tier private press book with letterpress printing, original linocut illustrations, and well-crafted binding and slipcase. Need I say anything more?
If you wish to acquire a copy (if still available) you will need to contact Andrew Judd directly at:
andrewjudd59@aol.com
Photos to follow.
12Constantinopolitan
>1 dlphcoracl: Thanks very much for the information about the excellent Thomas Traherne book. I've just received my copy and I let Andrew know that it was purchased thanks to your recommendation.
13dlphcoracl
>12 Constantinopolitan:
Hope you enjoy it as much as I did. It is a hidden gem and the presswork is exceptionally accomplished for someone who thinks of himself primarily as a linocut prints artist. Unbeatable at this price.
Hope you enjoy it as much as I did. It is a hidden gem and the presswork is exceptionally accomplished for someone who thinks of himself primarily as a linocut prints artist. Unbeatable at this price.
