CREDO: PLENI SANT COELI ET TERRA

Hammersmith, United Kingdom: Doves Press, The, 1908. full leather, five raised bands, by the Doves Bindery and signed "The Doves Bindery" with the only decoration being the title on the front cover and on the spine, all edges gilt. Doves Press. 12mo. full leather, five raised bands, by the Doves Bindery and signed "The Doves Bindery" with the only decoration being the title on the front cover and on the spine, all edges gilt. (8) pages. Limited to 250 copies printed on paper and 12 on vellum of which this is one of those printed on paper (Catalogue Raisonne p.23). Leather chipped at the head of spine. Covers showing the slightest hint of staining to the front boards. Leather turn-ins have caused darkening to the paper on both the front and rear free endpapers. Else a lovely copy.Tidcombe describes one Doves Bindery binding on this title. Tidcombe notes that Cobden-Sanderson's bindings on the paper copies of 1908 bear simply the title, without the circular ornamental wreath [Tidcombe DPE 89].



After establishing the Doves Bindery in 1893, Thomas James Cobden-Sanderson partnered with Emery Walker to found the Doves Press in 1901. Alongside the Kelmscott, Ashendene and Vale presses it is considered one of the cornerstones of the Golden Age of Private Press, drawing heavily on the spirit of the Arts & Crafts Movement that flowered at the turn of the century. The two partners, along with Sydney Cockerell, created type based on Nicolas Jenson's Roman type (1470s), named the 'Doves Type.' Unfortunately, the relationship between the two partners deteriorated, resulting in said type being famously dumped in the Thames, where it languished until 2014, when it was rescued and subsequently digitalised. (Inventory #: 41577)