farfel_n03_034_148

148
March 1983
Dawson's Book Shop
$2.00
A \ Renaissance\ Caourtesy Book \ Galatco \ of Manners +
Behaviours \ by \ Giovanni Delta Casa \ With an
Introduction by \ J. E. Spirgarn.
Boston: D. B. Updike, Merrymount Press, 1914.
(1860-1941) the decorations - W. A. Dwiggins.
Colation i-xxviii, 1-22, [123-124] leaf 6 1/8 x 9 1/2"
Type Montallegro Binding boards. Rubricated throughout
The Humanist's Library (2nd Series) Vol. VIII.
The Merrymount Press *408 - Alan Wofsy, 1975.
(1893-1949)
Montallegro type - acquired in 1904 (no italic) - specially
cut for the press - designed by Herbert A. Horne.
-designed 3 Types of importance
1) Montallegro - modelled on an early Florentine font
+ was intended to be a good "reading type."
-1st used Merrymount Press in 1905 + since
[inserted] "sister types" [end inserted] in the volumes of the Humanists Library.
-cut by E. Pm Prince of London - The types of
the Kelmscott, Daves, + other English private
presses were from his hand, as well as the
Florence + Medici fonts.
2)Florence (1907)
3) Riccardi (1909)
A series of books issued by the Merrymount Press under the title
of the "Humanists Library" illustrates a venture into limited
edition publishing. The books according to Updike sold out;
but evidently the series was not a complete success because
after the 8th Vol. - "A Renaissance Courtesy Book" issued
in 1914, no more were printed. For their time they were
satisfactory enough, + on a pane with teh books of the private
presses that flourished during the 1890 + 1900's. All of
these Merrymount items are attractive byt they do not
represent the high type which we now associate with
the Press.