Catalogue of the Edward Clark Library. With typographical notes by Harry Carter and an essay on the Printing of Illustrations by Frank P. Restall. [2 vols, complete ]

Privately printed for Napier College of Commerce & Technology, first edition, 1976. 2 vols, cloth, 8vo,. xxxii, 330 and xii, 333 pp, 74 plates. The beautifully produced catalogue of an impressive library of the book arts, remarkable in a number of ways. From a contemporary review: "The library is devoted to books which demonstrate the development of typefaces and the history of typography, especially the work of private presses since 1880; books showing how the printing of illustrations has developed; and bindings...There are over one hundred items-whole or part volumes-of the fifteenth century, a large number of private press books, and a number of the standard classics on printing - Moxon, Stower, Savage, Hansard .. the library is clearly a splendid source for the study of the history of printing. The books are listed in 23 sections. The first six list books by periods from the fifteenth to the twentieth centuries; the next fourteen sections are arranged by kind - book-making, calligraphy, decoration, presses and printers, typography, geographical books, and so on; then there are sections devoted to additions, books from Bernard Newdigate's library (with a complete set of his reviews of many of these books), and, finally, books presented to the library. ..What makes the catalogue so valuable are the typographical notes to the books listed in the first six sections, contributed mainly by [Harry] Carter but with some added by the general editor, and the long essay on the printing of illustrations by the late Frank P. Restall (who was head of the printing school until 1964). This catalogue is, first and foremost, a teaching book and the many, many notes to specific books, and the large number of illustrations (printed against a pleasant green), make these volumes particularly valuable." Perhaps even more remarkable than the contents, was the fact that this sumptuous catalogue was initialy distributed entirely free of charge not merely to libraries but also to individuals who applied and confirmed their "real interest in the subject covered". Very Good.