THREE FINELY BOUND WORKS FROM THE GOLDEN COCKEREL PRESS, OFFERED AS A SINGLE ITEM

(GOLDEN COCKEREL PRESS). (BINDINGS - SANGORSKI & SUTCLIFFE)

Published by 1938-52, 1938

About this Item

Founded in 1920 with the intention to print fine editions of important well-known books as well as new literary works of merit from young authors, the Golden Cockerel Press was purchased in 1924 by the illustrator and wood-engraver Robert Gibbings. "Under his direction," says Cave, the Press was "transformed into the principal vehicle for the renaissance of wood-engraved book illustration that took place in the years between the wars." Financial hardship forced Gibbings to sell the press to a group of partners headed by Christopher Sandford, then with the venerable Chiswick Press. Sandford ran the press from 1933 to 1959, and published 120 titles during his tenure. 1) DONNE, JOHN, ABRAHAM COWLEY, JOHN DRYDEN, ROBERT HERRICK, [and others]. A LOVERS PROGRESS. SEVENTEENTH CENTURY LYRICS. ([London]: Golden Cockerel Press, 1938) 310 x 190 mm. (12 1/4 x 7 1/4"). 84, [2] pp. Edited by Nancy Quennell. No. 70 OF 250 COPIES. Original quarter white morocco over yellow buckram boards by Sangorski & Sutcliffe (stamp-signed on front pastedown), smooth spine with vertical gilt titling, edges untrimmed. Title page with gilt printer's device and titling, each poem with large red opening initial. Front pastedown with engraved bookplate of Mary Priscilla Smith. Pertelote 135; Cave & Mason 135 and p. 234. AN IMMACULATE COPY, virtually unchanged from the day of issue. The press' own bibliography, "Pertelote," deems this a "very handsome" volume, noting, "Though these poems are morally very 'broad', they are all examples of fine poetry, composed by great masters in moods of sexual excitement." The press produced small editions of such risqué works "for sophisticated collectors and scholars." 2) SWINBURNE, ALGERNON CHARLES. LUCRETIA BORGIA: THE CHRONICLE OF TEBALDEO TEBALDEI. ([London]: Golden Cockerel Press, 1942) 317 x 189 mm. (12 1/2 x 7 1/2"). 191, [1] (blank) pp., [3] leaves, [8] pp. (manuscript facsimile). Foreword, commentary, and notes by Randolph Hughes. NUMBER 14 OF 30 SPECIALLY BOUND COPIES, with the additional facsimile of Swinburne's manuscript of the Treatise of Noble Morals, from an edition of 350 copies. Publisher's special binding of ivory morocco by Sangorski & Sutcliffe (stamp-signed on rear turn-in), upper cover with gilt version of Stone's woodcut portrait of Lucretia, raised bands, gilt lettering in two panels, top edge gilt, other edges untrimmed. In (lightly soiled) original[?] ivory buckram slipcase. With seven wood-engravings Reynolds Stone. Front pastedown with engraved bookplate of Mary Priscilla Smith. Pertelote 152; Cave & Mason 152.1 and pp. 164-67. Two tiny purple dots to title page, but AN EXTRAORDINARILY FINE COPY of an easily soiled item, clean and bright inside and out. According to "Pertelote," this is "a volume to be esteemed among our best. . . . Hughes' Commentary, on Swinburne, the Borgias, and the Chronicle, is a stupendous work of scholarship . . . written in London during the worst raids of the war." 3) BRABY, DOROTHEA, Illustrator. SIR GAWAIN AND THE GREEN KNIGHT. ([London]: Golden Cockerel Press, 1952) 320 x 195 mm. (12 1/2 x 7 3/4"). 1 p.l., 95, [1] pp. Translated and introduced by Gwyn Jones. No. 344 OF 360 COPIES.GORGEOUS BLACK SILK BROCADE BY SANGORSKI & SUTCLIFFE (stamp-signed on verso of front free endpaper) WITH AN ANIMATED ALL-OVER FLORAL DESIGN in pink, red, green, blue, brown, and gold, flat spine with vertical green morocco label, top edge gilt, other edges untrimmed and PARTIALLY UNOPENED. In a (slightly scuffed) green buckram slipcase. Color woodcut frontispiece and four other color woodcut plates, plus woodcut design on title, all by Dorothea Braby. Title printed in three colors. Without bookplate, but from the collection of Mary Priscilla Smith. Cock-A-Hoop P190; Cave & Mason 190 and pp. 208-09. A hint of yellowing just at the very bottom of the untrimmed tail edge, but AN EXTREMELY FINE COPY, with no signs of use. The modern English translation of the Medieval tale was artist Dorothea Bra. Seller Inventory # ST17050collection

Bibliographic Details

Title: THREE FINELY BOUND WORKS FROM THE GOLDEN ...

Publisher: 1938-52

Publication Date: 1938