The Passionate Pirate

North Hills: Bird & Bull Press, 1964. Octavo. 91pp. One of 200 copies. A biography on the life and work of Thomas Bird Mosher, the remarkable New England publisher and literary pirate. The Passionate Pirate is one of Henry Morris's earlier titles. In making it, he was plagued with both papermaking and printing problems, since he had recently acquired a new papermaking beater and a new printing press. The first bindings on the books were disastrous, and the entire edition had to be rebound. This copy is inscribed by Morris "For my good friend Remy Green" and dated 11/15/64. Remy John Barcham Green worked for, and later ran, J. Barcham Green Ltd., which operated the Hayle Mill in Kent, England. Morris was in frequent contact with Remy and his father Jack (John Barcham Green II) when he first began his papermaking journey in the 1950s. Morris says of his initial correspondence with Jack Green: "I really sent a barrage of questions and I must say that Mr. Green was extremely kind as he not only answered them all, but to this day continues to give help and advice." When Jack was ill in August 1957, Remy replied to one of Morris's letters, and afterwards they became "good friends," meeting several times when Remy visited the United States. In addition to the inscription, this copy has a J. Barcham Green Ltd. stamp to the front flyleaf, dated 1 December 1964. One of the Press's more desirable pieces, with an interesting association, considering the issues Morris had in creating it. A fine copy in morocco-backed decorated paper boards, housed in a drop-back box with leather spine label. (Bird & Bull Bibliography A5; Omnibus, pp. 38, 43-49).