Lot 1168: VALE PRESS -- Charles RICKETTS (1866-1931). A bibliography of the books issued by Hacon &

VALE PRESS -- Charles RICKETTS (1866-1931). A bibliography of the books issued by Hacon & Ricketts. London: Ballantyne Press for C. Ricketts, sold by John Lane (New York), 1904.

4 o (210 x 140 mm). PRINTED ON VELLUM, one of ten copies. Printed in red and black in the Vale, Avon and King's founts. Wood-engraved frontispiece by Ricketts after the sign-board painted by C.H. Shannon of the old Vale premises, vine borders. Original flexible vellum binding, gilt bands and lettering on spine. Cloth folding box. Provenance: Albert Sperison (1908-99, San Francisco printer), Vale Press Collection bookplate.

This final publication from the Vale Press was limited to 250 paper copies and 10 COPIES ON VELLUM. In order to prevent the three founts from drifting "into other hands than their designers' and become stale by unthinking use", it was decided to throw the punches and matrices in the Thames and melt the type into metal again. Charles Ricketts was one of the most versatile English designers of books in all their aspects (type, illustration, binding, etc.), as well as an influential writer and publisher.