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1dlphcoracl
#1
The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan, the Shakespeare Head Press, 1928. Printed by the Shakespeare Head Press under the direction of Bernard Newdigate. 10 full-page wood-engraved illustrations by Blair Hughes-Stanton and Gertrude Hermes.
The Pilgrim's Progress needs little introduction or discussion for LT FPF readers. It is a canon of Western literature, has been translated into numerous languages, and is frequently one of the top choices in any list of 'The Greatest Novels of All Time' (see link).
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/aug/17/the-100-best-novels-written-in-eng...
With its colorful cast of characters (Mr. Worldly Wiseman, Beelzebub, Timorous, Lord Hate-Good, Mrs Know-Nothing, etc., and its steady succession of battles against the forces of evil, this book should be an illustrator's dream and private presses would trip over themselves to issue an edition.
Au contraire.
Surprisingly, The Pilgrim's Progress is not a member of Private Press Royalty, i.e., works of literature repeatedly published by private presses, and it is quite under-represented. One would think one of The Great Three private presses, the Kelmscott Press, Doves Press and Ashendene Press, the late 19th century British private presses responsible for beginning the private press movement, would have published it but that is not the case. More surprising, perhaps, is its absence from the bibliographies of the great early 20th century private presses in the United Kingdom. This would have been a natural for the deeply religious Davies sisters who founded and ran the Gregynog Press in Wales and the great British Golden Cockerel Press, with its emphasis on illustrating their books with the work of the finest wood engravers of the time. However, neither published an edition of John Bunyan's classic.
Quite simply, the Cresset Press edition printed under the direction of Bernard Newdigate at his Shakespeare Head Press (SHP) is the only game in town. Fortunately, it is a splendid edition although not without its problems as I will discuss later. First and foremost, Newdigate and the SHP represented the pinnacle of letterpress printing in the U.K. in the late 1920's and 1930's. The printing in this edition is flawless and it uses the Kelmscott Press Batchelor paper, one of the finest hand made papers, to show off its flawless printing. That said, this edition does have its problems.
First, it is a behemoth and quite unwieldy to read. The volumes measure 14.5 x 10.5 inches (37 x 27 mm) and in its thick cardboard slipcase the 2-volume set weighs approximately 6 kg (12-13 lbs.) It can only be read easily sitting on a comfortable chair or sofa with book placed in lap or at a desk with a lectern or similar reading device. More problematic, perhaps, is the quirky page design, with headers for the principal characters and a series of vertical and horizontal grid lines to separate the dialogue and responses while providing a formal column for marginal commentary. I find this quite intrusive and unnecessary but can still work my way through the text.
What is NOT controversial, however, are the ten magnificent wood engravings from then-married Blair Hughe-Stanton (BHS) and Gertrude Hermes (GH), two of the finest wood-engravers of the twentieth century. They married in 1926 and produced these wood-engravings two years later. Shortly thereafter, they would continue their storied careers together at the Gregynog Press from 1930 to 1933. Photos of this edition follow immediately with captions at the top of each photograph.
Frontispiece Vol. 1 by BHS: Christian and Evangelist
Christian and the Three Shining Ones by BHS
The Valley of the Shadow of Death by GH
The River of God by GH
The Pilgrims Cross the River of Death by BHS
Colophon
Frontispiece Vol. 2 by GH: The Slough of Despond
Sample text page
The Fight Between Grim and Great-Heart by BHS
The Valley of Humiliation by GH
Standfast and Madame Bubble by BHS
Christiana Joins Christian by BHS
This concludes the first weekly installment of COVID-19 Coronavirus Eye Candy. Hopefully, it will provide a bit of diversion as you practice "social distancing" and remain within your homes as outlined by your respective governments. Remember: the COVID-19 coronavirus is the Real Deal and it is a true game-changer, a Black Swan event that happens perhaps once or twice a century. Please take it seriously and exercise due caution - stay well and stay safe.
Live to play (and read!) another day.
The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan, the Shakespeare Head Press, 1928. Printed by the Shakespeare Head Press under the direction of Bernard Newdigate. 10 full-page wood-engraved illustrations by Blair Hughes-Stanton and Gertrude Hermes.
The Pilgrim's Progress needs little introduction or discussion for LT FPF readers. It is a canon of Western literature, has been translated into numerous languages, and is frequently one of the top choices in any list of 'The Greatest Novels of All Time' (see link).
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/aug/17/the-100-best-novels-written-in-eng...
With its colorful cast of characters (Mr. Worldly Wiseman, Beelzebub, Timorous, Lord Hate-Good, Mrs Know-Nothing, etc., and its steady succession of battles against the forces of evil, this book should be an illustrator's dream and private presses would trip over themselves to issue an edition.
Au contraire.
Surprisingly, The Pilgrim's Progress is not a member of Private Press Royalty, i.e., works of literature repeatedly published by private presses, and it is quite under-represented. One would think one of The Great Three private presses, the Kelmscott Press, Doves Press and Ashendene Press, the late 19th century British private presses responsible for beginning the private press movement, would have published it but that is not the case. More surprising, perhaps, is its absence from the bibliographies of the great early 20th century private presses in the United Kingdom. This would have been a natural for the deeply religious Davies sisters who founded and ran the Gregynog Press in Wales and the great British Golden Cockerel Press, with its emphasis on illustrating their books with the work of the finest wood engravers of the time. However, neither published an edition of John Bunyan's classic.
Quite simply, the Cresset Press edition printed under the direction of Bernard Newdigate at his Shakespeare Head Press (SHP) is the only game in town. Fortunately, it is a splendid edition although not without its problems as I will discuss later. First and foremost, Newdigate and the SHP represented the pinnacle of letterpress printing in the U.K. in the late 1920's and 1930's. The printing in this edition is flawless and it uses the Kelmscott Press Batchelor paper, one of the finest hand made papers, to show off its flawless printing. That said, this edition does have its problems.
First, it is a behemoth and quite unwieldy to read. The volumes measure 14.5 x 10.5 inches (37 x 27 mm) and in its thick cardboard slipcase the 2-volume set weighs approximately 6 kg (12-13 lbs.) It can only be read easily sitting on a comfortable chair or sofa with book placed in lap or at a desk with a lectern or similar reading device. More problematic, perhaps, is the quirky page design, with headers for the principal characters and a series of vertical and horizontal grid lines to separate the dialogue and responses while providing a formal column for marginal commentary. I find this quite intrusive and unnecessary but can still work my way through the text.
What is NOT controversial, however, are the ten magnificent wood engravings from then-married Blair Hughe-Stanton (BHS) and Gertrude Hermes (GH), two of the finest wood-engravers of the twentieth century. They married in 1926 and produced these wood-engravings two years later. Shortly thereafter, they would continue their storied careers together at the Gregynog Press from 1930 to 1933. Photos of this edition follow immediately with captions at the top of each photograph.
Frontispiece Vol. 1 by BHS: Christian and Evangelist
Christian and the Three Shining Ones by BHS
The Valley of the Shadow of Death by GH
The River of God by GH
The Pilgrims Cross the River of Death by BHS
Colophon
Frontispiece Vol. 2 by GH: The Slough of Despond
Sample text page
The Fight Between Grim and Great-Heart by BHS
The Valley of Humiliation by GH
Standfast and Madame Bubble by BHS
Christiana Joins Christian by BHS
This concludes the first weekly installment of COVID-19 Coronavirus Eye Candy. Hopefully, it will provide a bit of diversion as you practice "social distancing" and remain within your homes as outlined by your respective governments. Remember: the COVID-19 coronavirus is the Real Deal and it is a true game-changer, a Black Swan event that happens perhaps once or twice a century. Please take it seriously and exercise due caution - stay well and stay safe.
Live to play (and read!) another day.
3gmacaree
This one in particular has been on my list for years. Price has never quite been quite right -- perhaps someday!
4ultrarightist
Gorgeous book. Wonderful illustrations. As expected, top-notch typography and pressmanship by SHP.
7Glacierman
Lovely! Can't decide whether I prefer these or Blake's illustrations.
Ah! Easy way out of that dilemma is to accept that I like the both equally well.
Ah! Easy way out of that dilemma is to accept that I like the both equally well.
