Old Papermaking by Hunter, Dard - 1923

(Chillicothe, OH): Mountain House Press, 1923. Hunter, Dard. Quarto. 111pp., + (11)ff. of paper samples. One of 200 copies. With a tipped-in frontispiece showing Hunter's mill. Begun in late February 1922, this title is the first to be designed, written, and printed at the Mountain House Press and is Hunter's first work on the subject of papermaking. This history deals with the making of paper, the evolution of printing, tools and techniques used, and the advent and evolution of watermarks, written by an expert in the field and a leader in the revival of hand papermaking. Illustrated throughout with engravings and line drawings showing the implements and practices in making paper. Includes numerous tipped-in examples of papers and watermarks, many reproduced from items in the author's private collection, including specimens made by Hodgkinson and Company, the Doves Paper Mill, the James Willcox Mill and by Hunter himself. Dard Hunter II notes that tipped-in items were affixed with rubber cement, causing them to detach soon after publication. The 90 illustrations include 55 printed in the text in black & white, ten printed in color on Marlborough paper, five printed in color on text paper, four on Japanese vellum, one half-tone on Japanese paper, and eight photographs. The printing of the plates required three months, while the text required approximately a year. The book was finally completed in April of 1923 and was chosen by the American Institute of Graphic Arts as one of the fifty best books for that year. It was selected again in 1937 in Paul Bennett's booklet "Thirty-seven of the Finest Books of Our Time." Bound in half white paper with marble paper over boards. A very fine, bright copy that retains its exceedingly rare glassine dust wrapper and original box. Laid in is the bookplate of Mrs. J. R. Taylor. (The Life Work of Dard Hunter pp.87-89.).