Precious Caskets: The Friendship Between T.E. Lawrence & William McCance

Denby Dale: The Fleece Press, 2001. Book. Illus. by Parker, Agnes, Miller. Fine. Hardback. Signed by the Author. First Limited Edition. 4to - over 9¾ - 12" tall. A fine as new copy, signed on the colophon page by Simon Lawrence of the Fleece Press and the author. This is the intriguing story of the friendship between the wood-engraver, painter and typographer William McCance and the celebrated T.E. Lawrence. The book details the involvement of McCance in the choice of binders for the subscribers' edition of Seven Pillars of Wisdom, including a facsimile of a notebook compiled by McCance on suitable book binders that he visited. The book also details the later contact with regard to the Gregynog Press and the printing of Sir Robert Vansittart's "The Singing Caravan". The book is illustrated with a wood engraving designed by William McCance and engraved by his wife Agnes Miller Parker, it includes tipped in photographs and illustrations of the bindings of Seven Pillars some in full colour. The text is by Richard Knowles and incorporates the correspondence between the two men. Much very interesting material on Lawrence's interest in fine printing, great books and his (never realised) dream to run a private press, including a separate booklet with a facsimile record of McCance's notes on bindings, and a facsimile cheque from Lawrence to C & C McLeish (signed as 'J H Ross'). A significant contribution to our knowledge of the binding of the 1926 Seven Pillars. Printed letterpress in the inimitable manner of Simon Lawrence at his Fleece Press the volume complements his other T.E. Lawrence productions. An edition limited to 240 copies. 55pp.