A Plain Plantain; Country Wines, Dishes, & Herbal Cures, from a 17th Century Household M. S. Receipt Book
by Alexander, Russell George; Avery, Susanna (Original Manuscript); Gill, Eric (Illustrations); Jones, David (Illustrations)
- Used
- near fine
- Condition
- Near fine
- Seller
-
Walnut Creek, California, United States
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
Ditchling, Sussex: S. Dominic's Press, 1922. Limited Edition. Wraps. Near fine. Gill, Eric; Jones, David. One of 400 copies (unnumbered), duodecimo size, 115 pp., in a custom clamshell case. The Saint Dominic's Press, founded by Harry (Hilary) Douglas Clarke Pepler, flourished at Ditchling, Sussex, from 1916 to 1936. The first home of the Press was "a disused stable", with a hundred-year-old Stanhope hand-press which supposedly had belonged to William Morris. Pepler endeavored to do everything possible by hand, believing that such would both produce the best results and also be a "more individual or 'humane'...product". He therefore "preferred the handpress to the machine, handmade to machine-made paper, and handset founder's type to the products of typesetting machines."
Pepler met Edward Johnston and Eric Gill while living in Hammersmith; Pepler and his family would eventually move to Ditchling to join Gill, who was one of the most important artists to provide illustrations for the St. Dominic's Press. Other artists who provided illustrations included David Jones, Desmond Chute, Philip Hagreen, and Mary Dudley Short, among others.
This collection of recipes and herbs was taken from a manuscript inscribed "Madam Susanna Avery, Her Book, May ye 12th Anno Domini, 1688", and it provides a detailed description of medicinal uses and other concoctions made from plants during the seventeenth century. In the introduction, Russell George Alexander advocates for simple living, using what Nature provides, and this book preserves knowledge of herbs and fruits for both healing and edible purposes, and encourages a closeness to the earth.
Included are six wood-engraved vignettes, three of which are by Eric Gill (1882-1940), "Spray of Leaves" variant P108, "Flower" P139, and "Penny Pie" P144. Also with "Basket of Flowers" by English painter and poet David Jones (1895-1974), a contemporary of Gill who provided many illustrations for St. Dominic's Press and The Golden Cockerel Press; in addition, there is an illustration of a hound by Desmond Chute and another of daisies (artist unidentified). This volume with one of the various bindings, identified by the bibliographers as A98d; the bibliography also notes that 400 copies were printed per the Press's 1930 "Booklist".
___DESCRIPTION: In plain brown wrappers, all edges uncut, six black-and-white wood engravings by Eric Gill, David Jones, and others throughout (see details above); duodecimo size (6.75" by 4 1/8"), pagination: [6] [i-iii] iv-viii, 1-97 [98]. Housed in a custom clamshell case covered with black cloth, red leather label on the front with gilt lettering and a ruled border, the interior lined with white paper.
___CONDITION: Near fine and could likely be deemed fine; the wraps clean without wear, a strong, square text block, the interior is clean and bright, and entirely free of prior owner markings; light dustiness to the text block edges, else fine. The clamshell box also fine, strong and sturdy, the leather label clean, both the lable and case without wear.
___CITATIONS: Taylor A98d; Skelton (plates); Gill no. 381; note that the quotes and much of the introductory information from "Three Private Presses" by Brocard Sewell.
___POSTAGE: International customers, please note that additional postage may apply as the standard does not always cover costs; please inquire for details.
___Swan's Fine Books is pleased to be a member of the ABAA, ILAB, and IOBA and we stand behind every book we sell. Please contact us with any questions you may have, we are here to help.
Pepler met Edward Johnston and Eric Gill while living in Hammersmith; Pepler and his family would eventually move to Ditchling to join Gill, who was one of the most important artists to provide illustrations for the St. Dominic's Press. Other artists who provided illustrations included David Jones, Desmond Chute, Philip Hagreen, and Mary Dudley Short, among others.
This collection of recipes and herbs was taken from a manuscript inscribed "Madam Susanna Avery, Her Book, May ye 12th Anno Domini, 1688", and it provides a detailed description of medicinal uses and other concoctions made from plants during the seventeenth century. In the introduction, Russell George Alexander advocates for simple living, using what Nature provides, and this book preserves knowledge of herbs and fruits for both healing and edible purposes, and encourages a closeness to the earth.
Included are six wood-engraved vignettes, three of which are by Eric Gill (1882-1940), "Spray of Leaves" variant P108, "Flower" P139, and "Penny Pie" P144. Also with "Basket of Flowers" by English painter and poet David Jones (1895-1974), a contemporary of Gill who provided many illustrations for St. Dominic's Press and The Golden Cockerel Press; in addition, there is an illustration of a hound by Desmond Chute and another of daisies (artist unidentified). This volume with one of the various bindings, identified by the bibliographers as A98d; the bibliography also notes that 400 copies were printed per the Press's 1930 "Booklist".
___DESCRIPTION: In plain brown wrappers, all edges uncut, six black-and-white wood engravings by Eric Gill, David Jones, and others throughout (see details above); duodecimo size (6.75" by 4 1/8"), pagination: [6] [i-iii] iv-viii, 1-97 [98]. Housed in a custom clamshell case covered with black cloth, red leather label on the front with gilt lettering and a ruled border, the interior lined with white paper.
___CONDITION: Near fine and could likely be deemed fine; the wraps clean without wear, a strong, square text block, the interior is clean and bright, and entirely free of prior owner markings; light dustiness to the text block edges, else fine. The clamshell box also fine, strong and sturdy, the leather label clean, both the lable and case without wear.
___CITATIONS: Taylor A98d; Skelton (plates); Gill no. 381; note that the quotes and much of the introductory information from "Three Private Presses" by Brocard Sewell.
___POSTAGE: International customers, please note that additional postage may apply as the standard does not always cover costs; please inquire for details.
___Swan's Fine Books is pleased to be a member of the ABAA, ILAB, and IOBA and we stand behind every book we sell. Please contact us with any questions you may have, we are here to help.
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Details
- Bookseller
- Swan's Fine Books (US)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 21073002
- Title
- A Plain Plantain; Country Wines, Dishes, & Herbal Cures, from a 17th Century Household M. S. Receipt Book
- Author
- Alexander, Russell George; Avery, Susanna (Original Manuscript); Gill, Eric (Illustrations); Jones, David (Illustrations)
- Illustrator
- Gill, Eric; Jones, David
- Format/Binding
- Wraps
- Book Condition
- Used - Near fine
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Edition
- Limited Edition
- Publisher
- S. Dominic's Press
- Place of Publication
- Ditchling, Sussex
- Date Published
- 1922
- Keywords
- Fine Press, Eric Gill, Saint Dominic's Press, S. Dominic's Press, St. Dominic's Press, David Jones, Wood Engravings, Woodcuts, Recipes, Medicine, Plants, Herbs
Terms of Sale
Swan's Fine Books
We cheerfully accept returns for any reason within 30 days, so long as the book(s) is/are returned in the same condition as when sent. We will refund the price you paid for the book, plus shipping if the book was misdescribed.
About the Seller
Swan's Fine Books
Biblio member since 2017
Walnut Creek, California
About Swan's Fine Books
Swan's Fine Books specializes in Fine Press, Illustrated Books, and Books About Books. We also carry a wide array of general antiquarian stock and recently acquired a very nice collection of modern lit. Enjoy browsing our web site and visit our brick-and-mortar shop if you are in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- ABAA
- ...
- Clamshell Box
- A protective box designed for storing and preserving a bound book or loose sheets. A clamshell box is hinged on one side, with...
- A.N.
- The book is pristine and free of any defects, in the same condition as ...
- Inscribed
- When a book is described as being inscribed, it indicates that a short note written by the author or a previous owner has been...
- Wrappers
- The paper covering on the outside of a paperback. Also see the entry for pictorial wraps, color illustrated coverings for...
- ILAB
- ...
- Cloth
- "Cloth-bound" generally refers to a hardcover book with cloth covering the outside of the book covers. The cloth is stretched...
- Edges
- The collective of the top, fore and bottom edges of the text block of the book, being that part of the edges of the pages of a...
- Text Block
- Most simply the inside pages of a book. More precisely, the block of paper formed by the cut and stacked pages of a book....
- Fine
- A book in fine condition exhibits no flaws. A fine condition book closely approaches As New condition, but may lack the...
- IOBA
- ...
- Gilt
- The decorative application of gold or gold coloring to a portion of a book on the spine, edges of the text block, or an inlay in...