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104 KENT, Rockwell (illus.); VOLTAIRE. Candide. New York: Random House, 1928 signed limited hand-coloured issue First Kent edition, number 70 of 95 copies signed by Kent and hand-coloured in the studio of the artist by his assistants Lone Robinson and Wanda Gag, from an edition of 1,470 copies. This copy retains the original publisher’s slipcase, also numbered 70 at the foot.
103 KELMSCOTT PRESS: RUSKIN, John. The Nature of Gothic. Hammersmith: Kelmscott Press, and published by George Allen, London & Orpington, [1892] “change or variety is as much a necessity to the human heart and brain in buildings as in books” First Kelmscott edition, one of 525 copies on paper (no copies were printed on vellum). The work was originally a chapter within The Stones of Venice , first published in 1853 and first separately reprinted as a pamphlet by F. J. Furnivall the same year. Quarto. Original limp vellum, spine lettered in gilt, yellow silk ties. Wood-engraved border and numerous initials with several line-block diagrams in text. Printed in Golden type. Light soiling to vellum, as usual, with some cockling and cracking to front pastedowns, else a near-fine copy. ¶ Peterson A4. £2,500 [150052]
This was the first book published by Random House. “The Candide illustrations occupied Kent off and on for many months. The book, produced by the Pynson Printers under the direction of Elmer Adler, was published by Random House in an edition of 1,470 numbered and signed copies in April 1928. Its flawless format, with complete harmony between type, paper, and illustrations – almost silvery in tone – brought instant recognition as a masterpiece. The edition was sold out before publication date . . . The following year, Kent’s Candide illustrations were published in trade editions – one for the Literary Guild, whose wide distribution brought his work to the attention of many who had perhaps never before seen a fine book. Grateful for the success, Random House threw a spectacular cocktail party in the artist’s honour” (Johnson). Tall quarto. Rebacked to style, spine lettered in gilt, retaining original patterned cloth boards with the Random House logo and initials, top edge gilt, others untrimmed. In the publisher’s orange cloth slipcase. Hand-coloured engraved title page and illustrations throughout by Rockwell Kent. Internally crisp, a very good copy. ¶ Fridolf Johnson, Rockwell Kent: An Anthology of his Work s, 1982, pp. 42–6. £3,750 [148950]
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All items are fully described and photographed at peterharrington.co.uk
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