>>ASSOCIATION COPY<<The Consumers Place in Society Hardcover - 1920

Manchester : Co-Operative Union Limited, 1920 107 pages. All edges gilt.Inner gilt dentelles. Marbled endpapers. Original paper label on rear paste-down endpaper, "Bound by Co-operative Printing Society, New Mount Street, Manchester". Additional illuminated manuscript dedication leaf pasted in, reminiscent of the earlier Arts and Crafts era, which in turn harked back to the art form's medieval origins; privately commissioned by the Co-operative Union Limited (Scottish Section) as a presentation to Lord Provost Duke on behalf of the Royal Burgh of Brechin. Signed by the Chairman J. Downie and Secretary W.T. Laing. 14 x 21 cm. Contemporary, full, presentation, signed, forest green morocco binding. Spine with gilt lettering in 2 compartments and four compartments of Lotus flowers arranged in arabesque around central marigold gilt tooled decorations within pointille and single line gilt fillet borders, & the date at the bottom (very lightly rubbed at top of spine). Bevelled boards with fin de siecle stylised wisteria flower gilt tooling at each corner and centrally at the top and bottom attached to rose flowers; there are two lotus flower devices at each side, surrounded by twin rose and quatrefoil decorations in gilt- all linked with swag borders and various other tooled decorations (some very slight rubbing, and boards extremely slightly bowed). Contents:-1. The world of consumers. 2. Village communities to world industry. 3. The organisation of consumers. 4. The control of industry. 5. The future of the consumers' movement. Provenance:- John Wallace Downie CMG (1876-1940) in 1920 became manager of the Salisbury Farmer's Co-operative (until the end of Chartered Company Rule in 1923), then, as Minister of Agriculture and Lands, he encouraged the cotton industry and agricultural co-operative efforts before serving as High Commissioner of Southern Rhodesia from 1930 to 1935. In 1935 Downie became Chairman of Rhodesia and Nyasaland Airways. About 400 delegates were present at the Brechin Co-operative conference. Downie's address criticised Neville Chamberlain's government for lacking in appreciation of what co-operation meant (citing trade relations with Russia). He also bitterly attacked plans to impose a tax on Co-operative dividends and urged the Co-operative movement to politicise their members in opposition. The Co-operative Printing Society was formed in Manchester in 1869. A group of printers started the group (some were employees for the Manchester Guardian) as letterpress printers and stationers, also undertaking lithography, bookbinding, ruling, and other printing work. In 1871, what is now called The Press became the first building to hold a co-operative society that had produced its own newspaper (an independent periodical not tied to any organisation). An extension was added to the original building in the early 1900s and a rooftop extension added in the 1920s; the bookbinding and composing-rooms were provided for on the second and third floors respectively, specially lit from the roof. Examples of special Co-operative Printing Society book bindings are not common. WorldCat locates copies of the trade binding edition in twelve UK libraries.. 1st Edition. Hardcover. Very Good.