1Glacierman
As with all fine presses, there are both glorious highlights and lesser lights hidden in the shadows cast by their greater brethren. The Golden Cockerel Press (GCP) certainly published some great ones: The Four Gospels, Canterbury Tales, etc. Among the smaller gems hiding in the shadows are such books as Against Women and its companion volume, In Defense of Woman.
Although my collection of GCP is down to two books, I once had a few more. One which is still in my collection is the slightly larger gem that is Phyllis Hartnoll’s The Grecian Enchanted. This I wish to share with you today.
THE AUTHOR
Phyllis Hartnoll (1906-1997) was an English poet, theater historian, and editor for the publishing house of Macmillan. Born in Egypt in 1906, she was educated first at Cheltenham Ladies’ College, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England, and moving on to read English at St. Hugh’s College, Oxford. She also attended the Universities of Lyon and Algiers. She won the Newdigate prize for poetry in 1929 and was a founding member of Society for Theatre Research in 1948. She also provided the introduction to GCP’s editon of Zastrozzi by Percy Bysse Shelley (1956).
As a theater historian, she edited the Oxford Companion to the Theatre first published in 1951 and still in print. My thanks to good ol’ Wikipedia for the biographical information above.
THE BOOK
Published April, 1952. THE GRECIAN ENCHANTED. By Phyllis Hartnoll. 8 aquatints by John Buckland Wright. 96 pages, 12 ¾ x 7 ½ inches. Caslon Old Face 18 pt type with Imprint Shadow titling. 360 copies printed in black, grey, pink and blue on mould-made paper. 60 signed copies in grey and pink moroccos, with a second set of the aquatints and one extra. 300 copies in pink and blue-grey fabrics (this is the one I have). (Cock-a-Hoop No.189)
Christopher Sandford described The Grecian Enchanted thus: “A simple tale, as evanescent as the scent of wild thyme, into which Phyllis Hartnoll wove the mingled ecstasy and heart-break of young lovers, the sunshine and shadow of their April love that triumphs over all obstacles and outfaces death.” I found it an enjoyable read.
John Buckland Wright, whose work I have always admired, has provided wonderful illustrations which go very well with the text and add greatly to my enjoyment of the story. The binding is, I think, quite attractive.
THE IMAGES
The images that follow are JPEGs and were scanned at 300 dpi, 24-bit color, on an Epson 10000XL flatbed scanner, except for the final image for which I have no data. These are large images for detail. Just right-cllick on an image and select "view image" to see the entire image at a smaller scale. Images are hosted on IMGUR.
The cover of the cloth edition.
Here is the title page:
A page of text:
This is a two-page spread, one illustration page and one text page:
Three of the illustrations:
The colophon:
As an extra treat, here is a photo of the cover of the leather-bound edition I pulled off the net:
Although my collection of GCP is down to two books, I once had a few more. One which is still in my collection is the slightly larger gem that is Phyllis Hartnoll’s The Grecian Enchanted. This I wish to share with you today.
THE AUTHOR
Phyllis Hartnoll (1906-1997) was an English poet, theater historian, and editor for the publishing house of Macmillan. Born in Egypt in 1906, she was educated first at Cheltenham Ladies’ College, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England, and moving on to read English at St. Hugh’s College, Oxford. She also attended the Universities of Lyon and Algiers. She won the Newdigate prize for poetry in 1929 and was a founding member of Society for Theatre Research in 1948. She also provided the introduction to GCP’s editon of Zastrozzi by Percy Bysse Shelley (1956).
As a theater historian, she edited the Oxford Companion to the Theatre first published in 1951 and still in print. My thanks to good ol’ Wikipedia for the biographical information above.
THE BOOK
Published April, 1952. THE GRECIAN ENCHANTED. By Phyllis Hartnoll. 8 aquatints by John Buckland Wright. 96 pages, 12 ¾ x 7 ½ inches. Caslon Old Face 18 pt type with Imprint Shadow titling. 360 copies printed in black, grey, pink and blue on mould-made paper. 60 signed copies in grey and pink moroccos, with a second set of the aquatints and one extra. 300 copies in pink and blue-grey fabrics (this is the one I have). (Cock-a-Hoop No.189)
Christopher Sandford described The Grecian Enchanted thus: “A simple tale, as evanescent as the scent of wild thyme, into which Phyllis Hartnoll wove the mingled ecstasy and heart-break of young lovers, the sunshine and shadow of their April love that triumphs over all obstacles and outfaces death.” I found it an enjoyable read.
John Buckland Wright, whose work I have always admired, has provided wonderful illustrations which go very well with the text and add greatly to my enjoyment of the story. The binding is, I think, quite attractive.
THE IMAGES
The images that follow are JPEGs and were scanned at 300 dpi, 24-bit color, on an Epson 10000XL flatbed scanner, except for the final image for which I have no data. These are large images for detail. Just right-cllick on an image and select "view image" to see the entire image at a smaller scale. Images are hosted on IMGUR.
The cover of the cloth edition.
Here is the title page:
A page of text:
This is a two-page spread, one illustration page and one text page:
Three of the illustrations:
The colophon:
As an extra treat, here is a photo of the cover of the leather-bound edition I pulled off the net:
2gmacaree
The dual-colour binding is really striking, especially the leather one. Always makes me pause for a second look when I'm scrolling through my book-hunting feeds.
One day I'll land the leather version.
One day I'll land the leather version.
3dlphcoracl
This GCP book has it all........
1. One of the finest of the GCP wood-engravers not named Eric Gill.
2. Caslon Old Face type - clear, legible, unfussy - simple and beautiful.
3. Arnold's mould made paper, one of the finest.
4. Printed letterpress at the renowned Chiswick Press, with its roots extended back to the early 19th century. Chiswick could always be relied upon for superlative printing.
Incidentally, the colophon inadvertently explains why this Special edition sells for substantial prices. It is not the duo-color morocco leather binding by Sangorski and Sutcliffe. It is the inclusion of an additional (separate) portfolio of the eight wood-engravings + an extra illustration by renowned artist John Buckland-Wright, printed directly from the original copper plates.
1. One of the finest of the GCP wood-engravers not named Eric Gill.
2. Caslon Old Face type - clear, legible, unfussy - simple and beautiful.
3. Arnold's mould made paper, one of the finest.
4. Printed letterpress at the renowned Chiswick Press, with its roots extended back to the early 19th century. Chiswick could always be relied upon for superlative printing.
Incidentally, the colophon inadvertently explains why this Special edition sells for substantial prices. It is not the duo-color morocco leather binding by Sangorski and Sutcliffe. It is the inclusion of an additional (separate) portfolio of the eight wood-engravings + an extra illustration by renowned artist John Buckland-Wright, printed directly from the original copper plates.
4wcarter
>1 Glacierman:
Enabled again.
Your review was so convincing, I have ordered a copy that was for sale by Oak Knoll. Looks beautiful.
Enabled again.
Your review was so convincing, I have ordered a copy that was for sale by Oak Knoll. Looks beautiful.
5Glacierman
>4 wcarter: Always happy to aid and abet another LTer. *BIG grin*
