A Descriptive Bibliography of the Books Printed at the Ashendene Press Mdcccxcv - Mcmxxxv
Ashendene Press, 1934.
First edition. Number 239 of 390 copies, printed on Batchelor Ashendene 'knight in armour' paper, signed by Hornby. Printed in Ptolemy type. Original full chocolate calf by the W.H. Smith bindery, with raised bands and gilt titles to spine and gilt monogram to the upper cover. Top edge gilt, other's uncut. Errata slip tipped in at the end, as called for. Hornby's complements slip tipped in to the front blank (not called for). Title page in red and black. Lavishly illustrated throughout with plates and sample leaves from the books, including one from the destroyed Daphnis & Chloe on Japon. Folio leaves folded and mounted on a stub, examples of illustrations, specimens of initial letters and a series of plates on japon of photographs of bindings (mainly by W.H. Smith) commissioned for Ashendene Press works. A near fine copy with just a trace of wear to the spine ends.
The W.H. Smith copy of Hornby's monumental bibliography of his own press, both informative and one of the most decorative works by the Press in its own right.
Hornby was a close friend of Frederick Smith at Oxford and after taking ownership of W.H. Smith in 1891, Smith brought Hornby in as a partner. Hornby left some two years later, with Smith's encouragement and support, to found the Ashendene Press. It was Hornby's connection with Douglas Cockerell which led Smith to hire Cockerell to run the W.H. Smith bindery, which bound all the books for the Ashendene Press.
PROVENANCE: The Library of the W.H. Smith family, Viscounts of Hambleden.
Stock ID: 31697
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