MUDVILLE IN LETTERPRESS

Thayer, Ernest L. (1863–1940)

Casey at the Bat [Carpetbagger Press Limited Edition] [Edition of 200 Copies]

Tampa, Florida: Carpetbagger Press, April 1987.

A PRIVATE PRESS TRIBUTE TO AMERICA'S BEST-LOVED BASEBALL POEM.
A charming private press edition of Ernest Lawrence Thayer's immortal baseball poem, Casey at the Bat, printed by Tampa's Carpetbagger Press in an edition of only 200 copies. Produced for members of the Amalgamated Printers Association and friends, this petite booklet reflects the revival of hand printing and private press craftsmanship that flourished among American printers during the late twentieth century.

A CLASSIC OF AMERICAN POPULAR CULTURE.
First published in 1888, Casey at the Bat has remained one of the most recognizable poems in American literature. Its dramatic account of the overconfident slugger from Mudville has become inseparable from the mythology of baseball, making this finely printed keepsake appealing to collectors of baseball literature, private press printing, and American poetry alike.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS: LIMITED PRIVATE PRESS EDITION.
Small-format booklet measuring approximately 3.75 by 5 inches. Eight pages. Text block gathered with a single staple and enclosed within a printed paper wrapper attached by a glued outer jacket. Title printed in red and black on the front cover with a decorative baseball-inspired border. Illustrated title page featuring a red line drawing of a batter. Handset in Figaro and Century Schoolbook types and printed on an A-C&P 8×12 press. Edition limited to 200 copies. Printed by Frederick J. Liddle, Prop., Carpetbagger Press, Tampa, Florida, April 1987.

CONDITION: Fine. No Flaws or Blemishes but minimal shelf handling; Still Gift Quality.

LITERARY SIGNIFICANCE: THE PRIVATE PRESS MOVEMENT IN FLORIDA.
Carpetbagger Press represents the vibrant network of American private presses that flourished through organizations such as the Amalgamated Printers Association. These presses preserved traditional letterpress printing techniques during an era increasingly dominated by offset and digital production, producing finely crafted keepsakes in small editions for fellow printers and collectors.

BASEBALL'S MOST FAMOUS POEM.
Since its publication in 1888, Casey at the Bat has become one of the defining works of American popular verse. Its memorable conclusion and enduring themes of confidence, failure, and public expectation have made it a fixture of baseball culture for more than a century, inspiring countless reprintings, performances, and illustrated editions.

SUBJECTS: Ernest L. Thayer, Casey at the Bat, Carpetbagger Press, Tampa Florida, Amalgamated Printers Association, Private Press, Baseball Poetry, Letterpress Printing, Fine Press, Limited Editions,  American Poetry, Fine Printing, Florida Imprints, Letterpress Printing.

Item #22345

Price: $24.00