|
|
 |
|
|
|
Item Details
|
|
 |
 |
| Heading: |
(Everson, William, Printer) |
| Author: |
** |
| Title: |
Novum Psalterium PII XII. An Unfinished Folio Edition by Brother Antoninus, O.P. |
| Place: |
Los Angeles |
| Publisher: |
|
| Date: |
[1955] |
| Item # : |
110863 |
|
|
| Sale Number |
|
257 |
| Lot Number |
|
30 |
| Sale Name |
|
|
| Fine & Rare Books |
| Sale Date |
|
02/10/2003 |
| Price realized |
|
$ 9775 |
| (Includes 20% Buyer's Premium) |
|
This item was sold in a live auction.
If another copy or a similar item comes
up for auction, we can let you know.
Pressing the button below will add
the title to your 'want list', and if
the item comes up for auction again,
we will notify you via email.
|
|
|
| Description: |
| Foreword by Robert O. Schad. A Note on the Psalter by Brother Antoninus. xxix [incl. front blank], [10], 1-8, 17-76, [2] pp. 15½x10, full blue levant morocco with gilt cross on front cover, spine & front cover lettered in gilt, raised spine bands, gilt-ruled inner dentelles, cloth slipcase; bound by R.R. Donnelley & Sons at the Lakeside Press. One of 48 copies, the main body of the text printed on the handpress by William Everson [as Brother Antoninus], the preliminary pages and colophon printed by Saul & Lillian Marks at the Plantin Press. |
| Inscribed and signed by Everson to a friend and collector, in ink in the colophon, "For ____, this bastard book, William Everson, January 18, '81, Kingfisher Flat." This is one of two copies of the book known to have been inscribed by Everson. His extreme reluctance to inscribe copies of his psalter stemmed from his unwillingness to acknowledge the unfinished endeavor. This copy is not numbered; it was the Immaculate Heart College copy. Everson's acknowledged masterpiece as a printer, regarded by many as the finest book printed in America in the twentieth century, and the finest rendering of the Psalms ever printed. This is one of only 48 complete copies (there was later an issue of only 12 sheets, comprised of extra sheets Everson printed in case originals were damaged). The "complete" editions are of the greatest rarity, very seldom becoming available for sale. Bookseller Peter Howard, proprietor of Serendipity Books in Berkeley, California, in his Catalogue Eleven, describes the scenario under the heading of "A Noble Book": "Brother Antoninus projected a six year program to complete a hand-printed edition of the Psalter (`...it is the typographical opportunity of the age: for the first time in nearly two millenium, the Psalter has appeared in a new official text.') But because of costs, his own religious development, and affairs as his priory, Antoninus was forced to give up after printing 72 pp. (less one signature). He originally contracted with a Los Angeles book dealer [Dawson's] to sell the work, and to this end he sent exactly 48 complete sets of sheets there. Thereafter Antoninus lost all control over the fate of his masterpiece; he was, in fact, in his own words - `shafted.' Mrs. Estelle Doheny, a wealthy and eccentric benefactress of the arts, of Catholic faith, purchased the whole edition (contrary to Antoninus' hopes), had it bound with the Marks' printing of the preliminaries, and proceeded to distribute it to institutions. Moreover, Antoninus' introductory essay was edited against his wishes. The few individual sheets he had sent to Los Angeles in case originals were damaged were assembled in folios of 12 sheets each and later sold. This bit of commerce Antoninus fails to remember having agreed to or profited by." According to a census in progress there are no more that a half-dozen or so copies in private hands. With the book label of Estelle Doheny, as have virtually all copies. Housed in a custom-made folding quarter morocco box , made by Harold Wallenberg. |
| Condition: |
| A little fading to the spine, still fine. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
previous lot next lot
|
|
|
|
