T. E. Lawrence: Translating the Bruce Rogers 'Odyssey': The publisher's quarter cloth binding, hand-numbered copy #234
by T. E. Lawrence, Edited by Jeremy and Nicole Wilson, Introduction by Jeremy Wilson
- Used
- Hardcover
- first
- Condition
- See description
- Seller
-
San Diego, California, United States
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
Fordingbridge, Hampshire: Castle Hill Press, 2014. First and Limited edition. Hardcover. This numbered and handsomely bound limited edition is a lovely book about one of the 20th century's most strikingly beautiful books. In 1932, T. E. Lawrence of Arabia published a translation of Homers Odyssey. Illustrated by celebrated American typographer and type designer Bruce Rogers (1870-1957), Lawrences Odyssey was a masterpiece, an aesthetically magnificent book and a highly regarded translation. This volume brings together letters about the translation and publication of the 1932 Bruce Rogers Odyssey.
The publisher of this limited edition was Castle Hill Press, the premier editors and fine press publishers of material by and about T. E. Lawrence, founded by Lawrences official biographer, Jeremy Wilson (1944-2017). Of a total edition printed for subscribers limited to 377 numbered copies, 250 were bound thus, in either full or quarter cloth. This copy is hand numbered 234 on the limitation page. The binding features a quarter cloth spine in oatmeal-colored linen over yellow-gold paper-covered boards with a gilt-stamped tan-orange Morocco goatskin spine label.
The illustrated contents are bound with yellow-gold silk head and tail bands, yellow-gold topstain, and fine endpapers illustrated with a gilt medallion portrait of Homer with his lyre. We acquired this copy directly from the publisher and condition is as-new, the binding and contents beautifully fresh.
From the publisher: Lawrence's translation [of The Odyssey] has been continuously in print for more than 80 years. By that yardstick it is second only to Seven Pillars of Wisdom among his literary achievements. The money the translation earned proved extremely useful to him. It meant that, despite the economic constraints of the early 1930s, he was able to turn his Dorset cottage 'Clouds Hill' into a home fit to live in when he retired from the RAF. Bruce Rogers was one of the most distinguished typographers and book designers of his time. The 1932 Odyssey is one of his finest works, ranked among the most beautiful books produced in the 20th century. Bruce Rogers also designed two subsequent trade editions of the translation. The 1932 first edition was co-published by Emery Walker. It was one of the last major works printed by Emery Walker Ltd while he was still actively involved in the company. In 1888, the year of Lawrence's birth, it was Walker who inspired William Morris to found the Kelmscott Press. Morris in turn had inspired both Lawrence and Bruce Rogers to become interested in fine printing. In a sense, their magnificent 1932 Odyssey brought the story full circle. For Lawrence, Rogers and Walker were living legends.
The publisher of this limited edition was Castle Hill Press, the premier editors and fine press publishers of material by and about T. E. Lawrence, founded by Lawrences official biographer, Jeremy Wilson (1944-2017). Of a total edition printed for subscribers limited to 377 numbered copies, 250 were bound thus, in either full or quarter cloth. This copy is hand numbered 234 on the limitation page. The binding features a quarter cloth spine in oatmeal-colored linen over yellow-gold paper-covered boards with a gilt-stamped tan-orange Morocco goatskin spine label.
The illustrated contents are bound with yellow-gold silk head and tail bands, yellow-gold topstain, and fine endpapers illustrated with a gilt medallion portrait of Homer with his lyre. We acquired this copy directly from the publisher and condition is as-new, the binding and contents beautifully fresh.
From the publisher: Lawrence's translation [of The Odyssey] has been continuously in print for more than 80 years. By that yardstick it is second only to Seven Pillars of Wisdom among his literary achievements. The money the translation earned proved extremely useful to him. It meant that, despite the economic constraints of the early 1930s, he was able to turn his Dorset cottage 'Clouds Hill' into a home fit to live in when he retired from the RAF. Bruce Rogers was one of the most distinguished typographers and book designers of his time. The 1932 Odyssey is one of his finest works, ranked among the most beautiful books produced in the 20th century. Bruce Rogers also designed two subsequent trade editions of the translation. The 1932 first edition was co-published by Emery Walker. It was one of the last major works printed by Emery Walker Ltd while he was still actively involved in the company. In 1888, the year of Lawrence's birth, it was Walker who inspired William Morris to found the Kelmscott Press. Morris in turn had inspired both Lawrence and Bruce Rogers to become interested in fine printing. In a sense, their magnificent 1932 Odyssey brought the story full circle. For Lawrence, Rogers and Walker were living legends.
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Details
- Bookseller
- Churchill Book Collector (US)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 007907
- Title
- T. E. Lawrence: Translating the Bruce Rogers 'Odyssey'
- Author
- T. E. Lawrence, Edited by Jeremy and Nicole Wilson, Introduction by Jeremy Wilson
- Format/Binding
- Hardcover
- Book Condition
- Used
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Edition
- First and Limited edition
- Publisher
- Castle Hill Press
- Place of Publication
- Fordingbridge, Hampshire
- Date Published
- 2014
Terms of Sale
Churchill Book Collector
30 day return guarantee, with full refund including shipping costs for up to 30 days after delivery if an item arrives misdescribed.
About the Seller
Churchill Book Collector
Biblio member since 2010
San Diego, California
About Churchill Book Collector
We buy and sell books by and about Sir Winston Churchill. If you seek a Churchill edition you do not find in our current online inventory, please contact us; we might be able to find it for you. We are always happy to help fellow collectors answer questions about the many editions of Churchill's many works.
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- Fine
- A book in fine condition exhibits no flaws. A fine condition book closely approaches As New condition, but may lack the...
- Spine Label
- The paper or leather descriptive tag attached to the spine of the book, most commonly providing the title and author of the...
- Goatskin
- Goatskin, leather made from goat, is durable and easy to dye. The original and finest examples of Morocco binding are goatskin....
- First Edition
- In book collecting, the first edition is the earliest published form of a book. A book may have more than one first edition in...
- Morocco
- Morocco is a style of leather book binding that is usually made with goatskin, as it is durable and easy to dye. (see also...
- Spine
- The outer portion of a book which covers the actual binding. The spine usually faces outward when a book is placed on a shelf....
- Tail
- The heel of the spine.
- Gilt
- The decorative application of gold or gold coloring to a portion of a book on the spine, edges of the text block, or an inlay in...