Shakespeare, William (1564–1616) ; Wheeler, Monroe [Designer]

Venus and Adonis [Harrison of Paris / Monroe Wheeler Press] [First Book of the Press]

Paris: Monroe Wheeler Press, 1930. Limited Edition.

The inaugural publication of Monroe Wheeler’s legendary press, establishing the aesthetic vocabulary later refined through the Harrison of Paris editions. Elegant, restrained, and perfectly proportioned, this 1930 edition bridges Renaissance sensuality and Art Deco modernism at the very dawn of Wheeler’s career in fine-press book design.

KEY FEATURES:
+++ Visuals: Architectural typographic layout featuring wide margins on Arches vellum paper. 
+++ Binding: Quarter-bound with a black paper spine over silver-gilted paper boards; boards stamped with Wheeler’s distinctive monogram pattern; top edge gilt. 
+++ Design: A masterwork of early 20th-century 'balanced' typography, uniting classical verse with the silver-and-black harmony of the Jazz Age.
+++ Content: Shakespeare’s 1593 narrative poem of desire and mortality, presented as the debut volume of the press. 
+++ Imprint: Paris: Monroe Wheeler [Printed by Desclée, De Brouwer et Cie], 1930. First Edition Thus. 
+++ Specs: Small Folio (10.5 inches tall) / 71 pages. 

CONDITION: Fine. 
+++ The Book: The bindings are tight and square with the silver paper boards remaining remarkably bright. The text is pristine and clean with only minimal evidence of handling. 
+++ The Slipcase: Housed in the original black slipcase with the matching silver paper label; the case remains fresh, sound, and structurally superior. A well-preserved, archive-quality example.

SCHOLARLY FEATURES
+++ Publishing History: This volume holds primary importance as the first book issued under Monroe Wheeler’s imprint before his formal partnership with Barbara Harrison Wescott. It represents the 'proof of concept' for what would become Harrison of Paris, one of the most influential expatriate presses of the 1930s. 
+++ Contextual Analysis: Wheeler, who later became a Director at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), applied a curatorial rigor to this production. The choice of Venus and Adonis—Shakespeare’s first published work—as Wheeler’s own first publication creates a deliberate historical parallel. 
+++ Influence: The silver-and-black monogram motif on the boards became a signature of Wheeler's early design period, signaling the transition from the ornate Arts and Crafts style to a cleaner, modernist 'machine-age' luxury.

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE --
Monroe Wheeler was a central figure in the 'Lost Generation' literary circle in Paris, collaborating closely with Glenway Wescott and reaching the pinnacle of the American art world. His press, which evolved into Harrison of Paris, redefined the fine-press ideal by treating literature as a purely visual and tactile art form.

This 1930 Venus and Adonis matters because it is the genetic code of the Harrison of Paris aesthetic. It stripped away the over-decoration of the 19th-century private press movement, favoring instead the 'silver-and-shadow' palette of the Art Deco era. It stands as a vital primary document for the study of 20th-century book design and the professionalization of the expatriate private press.

SUBJECTS: William Shakespeare, Monroe Wheeler Press, Harrison of Paris, Art Deco Design, Fine Press Movement, Paris Expatriates, English Renaissance Poetry, Modernist Typography, Limited Edition, Fine Press, Private Press, Poetry.

BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCE: Ransom, Private Presses, p. 312; Harrison of Paris Checklist #1.

Item #20445

Price: $225.00