Engravings by Eric Gill; A Selection of Wood and Metal representative of his work to the end of the year 1927 with a complete Chronological List of Engravings and a Preface by the Artist

Bristol: Douglas Cleverdon, 1929. First and Limited Edition. Hardcover. Very good. Gill, Eric. One of 490 copies, folio size, 282 pp. Eric Gill (1882-1940) was a highly regarded artist, printmaker, sculptor, and typographer (as well as a complicated man). He is perhaps best known for his wood engravings and illustrated numerous fine press books; his work is characterised by sensual line work and elegent characters with a deep spirituality.

This volume, the "Cleverdon" iconography, was limited to 490 copies total, and contains 147 engravings as numbered and described on pp. xvii-xxii.

___DESCRIPTION: Bound in full black cloth over boards, gilt device on the front board after D160 ("Tree and Burin"), gilt lettering on the spine, top edge gilt, limitation statement on the verso of the half-title, this no. 459 of the four hundred standard copies (total edition 490), frontis a self-portrait of Gill (214), title page with S. Thomas' hands (102), the Preface by Gill is followed by the Chronological List of Engravings, then the "Selected Engravings" each one on a single page, the colophon with the date set within a cartouche( D.C. E.G. (318), designed for this book), vintage bookseller ticket on the rear pastedown ("Philip C. Duschnes / Rare Books / New York"); folio size (13 1/4" by 10 3/8"), pagination: [xxii] [1-2]3-[260].

___CONDITION: A solid very good copy, the cloth covers mostly clean with a few light, stray marks, the gilt top-edge bright, the front hinge starting to crack (but the board still solidly attached) and the back hinge solid, a strong, square text block, and the sole prior owner marking we see a single name with what is likely a private library number discreetly written next to the bookseller ticket; the corners lightly bumped but not rubbed (although the back corners have some light white markings, perhaps from paint from a prior owner's shelving), the cloth at the joints just beginning to rub, a very small rubbed spot on the bottom edge of the back board near the corner. Altogether a fine interior with a very good binding, a handsome production of Gill's many engravings.

___CITATION: Gill, no. 17.

___POSTAGE: International customers, please note that additional postage may apply as the standard shipping charge does not always cover costs; please inquire for details.

___Swan's Fine Books is pleased to be a member of the ABAA, ILAB, and IOBA and we stand behind book we sell. Please contact us with any questions you may have, we are here to help. (Inventory #: 24032439)