Randle, John & Rosalind

Whittington Press — Four Illustrated Prospectuses, 1986–1993, with an Earlier Proposed Publications Leaflet

Andoversford, Gloucestershire: The Whittington Press, 1986–c.1992. A group of four illustrated, string-tied prospectuses issued by the Whittington Press, together with a separate early folded leaflet, The Whittington Press: A List of Proposed Publications.

THE PRIVATE PRESS ADVERTISING ITSELF — IN ITS OWN LANGUAGE OF TYPE AND ENGRAVING.
A particularly attractive group of four Whittington Press prospectuses spanning the second half of the 1980s into the early 1990s, accompanied by an additional early proposed-publications leaflet. Far more than conventional publishers' advertisements, the prospectuses were themselves carefully printed examples of the Press's work, combining typography, handmade or fine papers, sewn construction, and illustrations by artists associated with Whittington.

The four catalogues advertise forthcoming and current publications while presenting work by a notable roster of British illustrators and engravers. Collectively they include engravings or illustrations by Barbara Crow, Peter Foster, John Lawrence, Miriam Macgregor, Howard Phipps, Hellmuth Weissenborn, John Craig, John O'Connor, Judith Verity, Brian Hanscomb, G. Kravtsov, Richard Kennedy and others.

The sequence offers an appealing miniature record of the Press's publishing program during an important period, while the additional List of Proposed Publications broadens the group beyond the four bibliographically recorded prospectuses.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS: FOUR SEWN PRESS PROSPECTUSES AND AN ADDITIONAL LEAFLET.
Three of the prospectuses measure approximately 8.25 by 11.25 inches; Plans for 1991 measures approximately 6.75 by 10 inches. All four are issued in printed wrappers and string-tied or sewn.

The prospectuses comprise:
+++ Books coming from The Whittington Press 1986–7: 16 pages; dusty rose printed wrappers; illustrated with engravings by Barbara Crow, Peter Foster, John Lawrence, Miriam Macgregor, Howard Phipps and Hellmuth Weissenborn, with a line-block after Richard Kennedy. Press Bibliography c15.
+++ Books coming from The Whittington Press 1988, 1989, & 1990: 16 pages; red-orange printed wrappers; engravings by John Craig, Miriam Macgregor, John O'Connor and Howard Phipps; two linocuts by Judith Verity; line-block after Brian Hanscomb and drawing by Richard Kennedy. Press Bibliography c17.
+++ The Whittington Press Plans for 1991: 8 pages; brown printed wrappers; wood engravings by Miriam Macgregor, John O'Connor and Howard Phipps. Press Bibliography c18. Printed on laid paper with untrimmed edges, consistent with separately described copies. Includes handwritten notes from the publisher.
+++ Books coming from The Whittington Press during 1993, 1994 & beyond: 16 pages; tan printed wrappers; line-blocks of engravings by John Craig, G. Kravtsov, Miriam Macgregor, John O'Connor, Howard Phipps and Hellmuth Weissenborn. Press Bibliography c20.
+++ The Whittington Press: A List of Proposed Publications: folded sheet measuring approximately 8.25 by 11.5 inches.

MANUSCRIPT ANNOTATIONS.
Publisher/Dealer Marginalia (1991 Prospectus): Pages 1–3 feature neat contemporary ink annotations recording private press issue details not fully expanded in the body text: Page 1 (Ernest Dowson, A Bouquet): Inscribed '(just published) (in stock at present)' and '15 copies in full dark-green Oasis morocco, in board slipcase, with separate wallet of plates. £210.00 (before publication)'. Page 3 (Miriam Macgregor, Whittington): Inscribed *'Have your order recorded.' in margin. Other similar notes throughout

The dates and sequence of the four prospectuses correspond with the Whittington Press holdings catalogued by the University of Gloucestershire Special Collections.

CONDITION: NEAR FINE. Carefully handled with only minor handling and occasional light creasing to the projecting wrapper edges. Interiors are Fine and remain clean and well preserved. The wrappers retain strong color and present attractively.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:
 THE WHITTINGTON PRESS — FINE PRINTING, WOOD ENGRAVING, AND THE PROSPECTUS AS PRINTED OBJECT.
The Whittington Press occupies an important position in the modern British private-press tradition. Founded by John and Rosalind Randle, it became particularly associated with fine typography, traditional letterpress printing, illustration and wood engraving, as well as Matrix, its influential journal devoted to printing and the book arts. The Press also encouraged and provided a platform for numerous contemporary engravers and private presses; the University of Gloucestershire preserves an extensive Whittington Press archive and collection documenting this activity.

THE CATALOGUE BECOMES A SPECIMEN.
These prospectuses demonstrate an especially appealing aspect of private-press culture: the announcement of forthcoming books could itself become an example of the printer's craft. Rather than purely commercial ephemera, the catalogues combine descriptions of forthcoming publications with examples of the engravers, typography and materials that characterized Whittington's books.

The artists represented across this small group include several figures closely connected with the revival of British wood engraving, particularly Miriam Macgregor, Howard Phipps and John O'Connor. As a result, the group has appeal beyond Whittington Press collectors to collections concerned with modern wood engraving, private presses, typography and twentieth-century book arts.

The University of Gloucestershire's Whittington collection confirms the sequence of these publications: 1986–7, 1988–90, Plans for 1991, Plans Etc for 1992, and 1993–94 & beyond. Thus the present four form a substantial, though not consecutive, sequence from this period.

SUBJECTS: British Private Presses, Wood Engraving, Fine Printing, Letterpress Printing, Book Illustration, Typography, Miriam Macgregor, Howard Phipps, John O'Connor, Hellmuth Weissenborn, Publishers' Catalogues, Fine Press, Prospectuses.

Item #22395

Price: $95.00