A source for collectors: private presses past and present

The Private Library, the quarterly journal of the Private Libraries Association is an invaluable resource for searching out and learning about private presses to collect. Based in the UK, admittedly the journal does tend to have a bit of a bias in that direction.

Some articles from past issues:

Caradoc Press (by James Freemantle)
A Collector's Guide to the Stanbrook Abbey Press
Folio Society Limited Editions
Gaylord Schanilec issue: Midnight Paper Sales Press; To Science, Art & Printing
Glad Hand Press
Cuala Press
Redpath & Abricotier Abattu Presses
Marianne Tidcombe: Bernard C. Middleton 1924-2019
David & Susan Chambers: Bernard Middleton’s Bindery

There are a LOT of interesting articles in these pages. A membership would be a good investment.

According to Wikipedia, James Freemantle is the current Chairman of the organization.

>1 Glacierman: Seconded! I am looking forward to the planned 2-volume publication ‘Early Private Presses 1730-1900’ by David Chambers which I anticipate may cause another run on the bank balance.

>1 Glacierman: Additionally, their ‘Private Press Books’ volumes are a huge resource of what got published around the world

>3 ChestnutPress: Thanks for mentioning that. It is indeed a great resource.

>2 edgeworn: That does sound like a good reference, I'd like to get it as well. Is this it?

https://www.plabooks.org/early-private-presses-1730-1900

Interesting that it was intended for members in 2017 & 2018, has a publication date of 2021 on one page and 2023 on another, and is a pre-order. It seems like anything fine press related is subject to the weighty anchor of time.

>5 Shadekeep: yes, that’s the one. ‘The weighty anchor of time’ - an increasingly familiar feeling these days!

Received Private Press Books 2010, loads of data to plunder in there. I wonder how much work it would be to pull together an online sequel dedicated to covering, say, 2011-2025? There are certainly still enough active presses to warrant such a thing. Given all the folks who contribute to the Year in Fine Press threads, I bet as a group we could work out a pretty satisfactory overview.

>7 Shadekeep: I know someone in Hungry Horse to lean on for this kind of thing. . . .

>8 SuttonHooPress: Oh yes indeed!

>8 SuttonHooPress: Who the heck would that be???

Here we are about a year later and Early Private Presses 1730-1900 is finally released and shipping. Some folks are already reporting receipt of the books. Hurrah!

>11 Shadekeep: Yes, I received mine today, and I am in Canada.

Yes mine arrived to Ireland yesterday.

>12 Flaubie: >13 rospan: Great, thank you both for the confirmation. Put an order in yesterday myself.

Received the Early Private Presses 1730-1900 two-volume set, handsome books. Will try to dig into them this weekend.