signed Various
1974-1983 · Chicago, IL
by Norman W. Forgue (1904-1983)
More than 80 items of printed ephemera and autograph material from Mel Kavin's correspondence. 1974-1983. KJH1123-251. Very Good.
Norman Forgue was a bookmaker, typographer and founder of several private presses including At the Sign of the Gargoyle, The Black Cat Press, The Norman Press and Normandie House. This collection includes keepsakes, books and booklets, printed advertising and promotional material, a selection of correspondence between Forgue and Mel Kavin. Forgue began his career as a printer working as a compositor at Book Press in Chicago. He began The Black Cat Press in 1932 to publish fine press keepsakes and booklets and it continued to release title for decades to come, including Forgue's 1954 autobiographic essay, Poorer Richard: An Almanac Long after Franklin. In 1937, Forgue established Normandie House to manage the production of full-length books; in 1939 he began the Norman Press with Frederick Ryder. The Norman Press specialized in book design and typography, but also produced an assortment of commercial services. In 1975, The Norman Press joined Schori Press in Evanston. This collection from the Mel Kavin correspondence falls into 6 categories: Correspondence, Printing Samples, Prospecti, full-sized publications, random items, and biographical items.
Categories:
Correspondence: 11 total items from Forgue to Kavin, 10 on From The Desk Of Norman W. Forgue letterhead and 1 on a blank 6 x 4-inch card. 3 typewritten and SIGNED; the rest are handwritten. Most undated, dated items are 5-1-1975; 12-29-1975, and 9/8/1976. Most of the discussion includes new publications being issued by the BCP, and items ordered by Kavin. Kavin's file copies of material sent to NWF, including memos dated 4/28/2975 and 12/26/1975, 2 duplicates on order forms from Kater-Crafts Bookbinders for Black Cat Press publications dated 5/6/175 and 6/8/1977 with carbon signatures of Mel Kavin and 1 with autograph notes from NWF; an 8 1/2 x 11-inch sheet of paper with copies of a prospectus for Karen Ann Benders April Stories with an order and typed notes from Mel Kavin; an undated BCP Invoice to Mel Kavin for 5 copies of Daffynitions; and 3 sheets of back stock price lists of BCP items.
Printing Samples: include 56 prospecti , (2 are in duplicate, 1 triplicate, and 1 in 5 copies), primarily for soon-to-be released miniatures, in various formats, including bifold, folding brochures, French-fold, some with 6-page including nested bifold, broadsides, and more. Often these materials include "Purrings" which are random thoughts on the mind of Norman Forgue but which include rich reminiscences about past publications and NWF's activities as a printer over many decades, and also personal reflections including his efforts to overcome a smoking habit. Identified dates are 1974-1983, but most are undated, assuming the recipient shall order copies promptly. Also included are 3 Keepsakes (undated), 1 Miniature Book, Stuart Brent, Collecting Modern Literature; 4 postcard prospecti; Proof Sheets for 2 projects; 7 printed cards, with individual sayings or part of larger projects; 1 bifold with calligraphy in black with red initials; 19 printed invoices from BCP to Mel Kavin; 3 printed sheets 8 1/2 x 5 1/2 inches.
3) 5 full-size publications including: 26 Soldiers of Lead (2 copies) Keepsake distributed to the Typecrafters, Oct. 1976, designed and typography by NWF, printed by Ward Schori. Text block French-fold in stapled printed wraps; There is Nothing Sadder in this world than to awake Christmas morning and not be a Child. (2 copies). Norman Press, Chicago, 1980, designed and printed by NWF, printed in red and black and SIGNED by NWF. ZARA, Louis. The Santa Who Was Late. Chicago: The Norman Press, (1951). 8 x 5 1/2 inches. 22, [2] pp. 2-color frontispiece by Dale Nicols. SIGNED on the half title by NWF.
4) Random Items: Kavin's file copies of material sent to NWF, including memos dated 4/28/2975 and 12/26/1975, 2 duplicates on order forms from Kater-Crafts Bookbinders for Black Cat Press publications dated 5/6/175 and 6/8/1977 with carbon signatures of Mel Kavin and 1 with autograph notes from NWF; an 8 1/2 x 11-inch sheet of paper with copies of a prospectus for Karen Ann Benders April Stories with an order and typed notes from Mel Kavin; an undated BCP Invoice to Mel Kavin for 5 copies of Daffynitions; and 3 sheets of back stock price lists of BCP items.
5) Biographical Items: BERMAN, Raeann. "The Big World on Miniatures: Norman Forgue," in Saver: First Federal of Chicago, Fall 1977, page 17. INSCRIBED to Mel Kavin by NWF; WISBY, Gary. "Mini-books make giant of a craft," in Chicago Sun-Times, October 5, 1982, p. 27 with half-tone portrait of NWF; Photocopied sheet: "In Memoriam, The Amazing Mr. Forgue, Norman W. Forgue 1905-1985." The R. Hunter Middleton Forward to NWF's autobiography Poorer Richard, is reproduced on this sheet; and finally, a printed bifold "With Deep Sorrow the Family of Norman W. Forgue Announces His Passing…," 1985. (Inventory #: KJH1123-251)
Norman Forgue was a bookmaker, typographer and founder of several private presses including At the Sign of the Gargoyle, The Black Cat Press, The Norman Press and Normandie House. This collection includes keepsakes, books and booklets, printed advertising and promotional material, a selection of correspondence between Forgue and Mel Kavin. Forgue began his career as a printer working as a compositor at Book Press in Chicago. He began The Black Cat Press in 1932 to publish fine press keepsakes and booklets and it continued to release title for decades to come, including Forgue's 1954 autobiographic essay, Poorer Richard: An Almanac Long after Franklin. In 1937, Forgue established Normandie House to manage the production of full-length books; in 1939 he began the Norman Press with Frederick Ryder. The Norman Press specialized in book design and typography, but also produced an assortment of commercial services. In 1975, The Norman Press joined Schori Press in Evanston. This collection from the Mel Kavin correspondence falls into 6 categories: Correspondence, Printing Samples, Prospecti, full-sized publications, random items, and biographical items.
Categories:
Correspondence: 11 total items from Forgue to Kavin, 10 on From The Desk Of Norman W. Forgue letterhead and 1 on a blank 6 x 4-inch card. 3 typewritten and SIGNED; the rest are handwritten. Most undated, dated items are 5-1-1975; 12-29-1975, and 9/8/1976. Most of the discussion includes new publications being issued by the BCP, and items ordered by Kavin. Kavin's file copies of material sent to NWF, including memos dated 4/28/2975 and 12/26/1975, 2 duplicates on order forms from Kater-Crafts Bookbinders for Black Cat Press publications dated 5/6/175 and 6/8/1977 with carbon signatures of Mel Kavin and 1 with autograph notes from NWF; an 8 1/2 x 11-inch sheet of paper with copies of a prospectus for Karen Ann Benders April Stories with an order and typed notes from Mel Kavin; an undated BCP Invoice to Mel Kavin for 5 copies of Daffynitions; and 3 sheets of back stock price lists of BCP items.
Printing Samples: include 56 prospecti , (2 are in duplicate, 1 triplicate, and 1 in 5 copies), primarily for soon-to-be released miniatures, in various formats, including bifold, folding brochures, French-fold, some with 6-page including nested bifold, broadsides, and more. Often these materials include "Purrings" which are random thoughts on the mind of Norman Forgue but which include rich reminiscences about past publications and NWF's activities as a printer over many decades, and also personal reflections including his efforts to overcome a smoking habit. Identified dates are 1974-1983, but most are undated, assuming the recipient shall order copies promptly. Also included are 3 Keepsakes (undated), 1 Miniature Book, Stuart Brent, Collecting Modern Literature; 4 postcard prospecti; Proof Sheets for 2 projects; 7 printed cards, with individual sayings or part of larger projects; 1 bifold with calligraphy in black with red initials; 19 printed invoices from BCP to Mel Kavin; 3 printed sheets 8 1/2 x 5 1/2 inches.
3) 5 full-size publications including: 26 Soldiers of Lead (2 copies) Keepsake distributed to the Typecrafters, Oct. 1976, designed and typography by NWF, printed by Ward Schori. Text block French-fold in stapled printed wraps; There is Nothing Sadder in this world than to awake Christmas morning and not be a Child. (2 copies). Norman Press, Chicago, 1980, designed and printed by NWF, printed in red and black and SIGNED by NWF. ZARA, Louis. The Santa Who Was Late. Chicago: The Norman Press, (1951). 8 x 5 1/2 inches. 22, [2] pp. 2-color frontispiece by Dale Nicols. SIGNED on the half title by NWF.
4) Random Items: Kavin's file copies of material sent to NWF, including memos dated 4/28/2975 and 12/26/1975, 2 duplicates on order forms from Kater-Crafts Bookbinders for Black Cat Press publications dated 5/6/175 and 6/8/1977 with carbon signatures of Mel Kavin and 1 with autograph notes from NWF; an 8 1/2 x 11-inch sheet of paper with copies of a prospectus for Karen Ann Benders April Stories with an order and typed notes from Mel Kavin; an undated BCP Invoice to Mel Kavin for 5 copies of Daffynitions; and 3 sheets of back stock price lists of BCP items.
5) Biographical Items: BERMAN, Raeann. "The Big World on Miniatures: Norman Forgue," in Saver: First Federal of Chicago, Fall 1977, page 17. INSCRIBED to Mel Kavin by NWF; WISBY, Gary. "Mini-books make giant of a craft," in Chicago Sun-Times, October 5, 1982, p. 27 with half-tone portrait of NWF; Photocopied sheet: "In Memoriam, The Amazing Mr. Forgue, Norman W. Forgue 1905-1985." The R. Hunter Middleton Forward to NWF's autobiography Poorer Richard, is reproduced on this sheet; and finally, a printed bifold "With Deep Sorrow the Family of Norman W. Forgue Announces His Passing…," 1985. (Inventory #: KJH1123-251)
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