On Collecting William Morris: A Memoir

Jack Walsdorf

together with an original leaf from the 1895 Kelmscott edition of
Child Christopher and Goldilind the Fair

RUNNER-UP IN THE 2008 CARL HERTZOG AWARD COMPETITION

We are pleased to announce that this title is one of two runners-up
in the 2008 Carl Hertzog Award competition
sponsored by Friends the University Library at the University of Texas El Paso

Jack Walsdorf, antiquarian bookman, lecturer, and author of
more than a dozen books relating to the history of printing and bibliography,
writes this charming tale of assembling “. . . a previously unconnected body of work
that later becomes, by his efforts, a focused, finite collection, with a richness in
splendor, diversity, humor, and intellectual content . . . again and again.”

From Jim Carmin’s Foreword

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Each version of the book has Morris inspired paper sides and “William Morris” is stamped in gold on the spine.

The book on the left is quarter-bound in leather and includes an original leaf from Child Christopher and Goldilind the Fair. This is an example of one of the copies numbered 16 through 84.

The book on the right is quarter-bound in cloth and includes a reproduction of a Child Christopher leaf. (See the following image.) This is an example of one of the copies numbered 85 through 150.

This is the Child Christopher leaf reproduced in the cloth quarter-bound version of the book; i.e., copies numbered 85 through 150.

Included in the author’s Morris collection is an original cabinet photograph of William Morris taken by Elliot & Fry in the late 1880s shortly before the start of the Kelmscott Press. A reproduction of the photograph is included in each version as one of two frontispieces. The second frontispiece, also included in each version, is a reproduction of an original photograph of William Morris’ study at Kelmscott House, Hammersmith, taken shortly after his death on October 3, 1896.

Please note: A much larger version (7-1/2 inches by 11-1/2 inches) of the photograph of Morris, suitable for framing, is available for sale separately for $20.00. We have only about 12 of these large reproductions left.

On Collecting William Morris is set in Jenson and Italian Old Style types. It was printed on a handpress in six colors on Somerset Book, a mould made sheet from St.Cuthberts Mill in England.

One hundred fifty numbered copies are available for sale. Every copy will contain tipped-in reproductions of original photographs of William Morris and of his study at Kelmscott House. Every copy also contains reproductions of five unique items from the Walsdorf collection. Three different versions of the book with three different prices are available as follows:

Copies 1 through 15 – (Sorry, but these copies are sold.)

contain an original leaf from Child Christopher and an original note from a 1926 leaf project by The Foliophiles Incorporated (T.F.I.) of New York. These copies are quarter bound in leather with a gilt spine and housed in a slip-case.

Copies 16 through 84

contain an original leaf from Child Christopher and a reproduction of the 1926 T.F.I. note. These copies are quarter bound in leather with a gilt spine. $390.00.

Copies 85 through 150

contain a reproduction of the Child Christopher leaf and a reproduction of the 1926 T.F.I. note. These copies are quarter bound in cloth with a gilt spine. $290.00.

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