A Hitory of The Golden Cockerel Press 1920 - 1960. First edition.

London: The British Library, 2002. Hardback. [i - v], vi - xi, [xii], 1 - 279pp. Dust jacket in a protective sleeve. The Golden Cockerel Press was one of the most important and productive of the English private presses which started work in the 1920s. Originally a co-operative venture set up as a "proving ground for literature", under Robert Gibbings it was transformed into a fine press famous for its illustrated books. Eric Gill's "Four Gospels" (1951) was but one of its successes illustrated by the wood-engravers of the time - Eric Ravilious, David Jones, Agnes Miller Parker, John Buckland Wright and others. Unlike other fine presses which succumbed to the Depression or closed during the second World War, Golden Cockerel continued to produce further outstanding books during the difficult years of the war and post-war austerity. The Press's literary achievement was as significant as its artistic contribution, through its publication of original manuscripts by writers such as H. E. Bates, A. E. Coppard and T. F. Lawrence. This richly illustrated history discusses and assesses the output of The Golden Cockerel Press and provides many insights into other aspects of the British publishing scene. Contains over 160 black & white illustrations and 16 pages of colour plates. Book in near fine condition. Very clean and unmarked. Dust jacket very good and unclipped. Just a little light edge wear.