The Tale of the Golden Cockerel
London: The Golden Cockerel Press, 1936. Robert Gibbings. Second Edition. 5 x 3 5/8 in (125 x 90 mm); 23 pp.; title page printed in gold, the rest black in 110t Caslon's Old Face Type. 4 wood-engravings by ROBERT GIBBINGS. Red cloth binding, black title on spine, without its dust-jacket. Copy clean with very faint spots on the enpapers.
[Pertelote 115].
Translated by Hannah Waller and with a note on Pushkin and the tale by Raïssa Lomonossova, "This diverting little book had considerable success and the translation was hailed as one of the best renderings of Pushkin ever made." (Pertelote 115)
The title in gold adopted a process where the page was printed in colored ink, then dusted over with powdered gold, which adheres to the ink.
A limited edition of 100 copies was bound in gold cloth and sold for 1 Guinea, but collectors did not hesitate over the high price, for such a tiny book.
The GOLDEN COCKEREL PRESS was founded by Harold Midgely Taylor in 1920 with the object of publishing new works of literary significance by young authors and to print and publish fine editions of books of established worth. When Mr. Taylor retired in1924 it was purchased by Robert Gibbins, known as an illustrator and woodcutter (Tomkinson, p .93) "Golden Cockerel books are amongst the most popular and desirable private press items." (Ransom p. 106).
Condition: Very good.
Item number: 622
Price: $45.00
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