HAMMER CREEK PRESS. ~ The Song of Solomon.
One of 40 copies. Printed in black, red and blue with gilt dot decorations on the title page. Printed on French-fold Sekishu paper. Pp. viii, 28. 12mo., original paste paper wrappers sewn on the outside in japanese style, printed paper label on upper cover with a gilt border. An extremely good uncut copy in the original patterned paper slipcase.
John Strobble Fass (1890-1973) was a graphic designer and printer of fine press books who designed books for the leading American publishers of limited edition books. Early in his career he worked for publishing house of William Rudge where he learned a great deal from Bruce Rogers. In 1925 Fass founded the Harbor Press in New York which specialised in creating fine editioned books. This press closed in 1939 and Fass began printing exquisite books from his single-room home at the Bronx YMCA first under the name Hell-Box Press and later he began the Hammer Creek Press in the 1950s. He used an Albion with an extraordinary provenance. He bought it from Valenti Angelo, who also illustrated a number of Hammer Creek Press titles. Angelo had got the press from Bruce Rogers who in turn had procured it from the great Emery Walker.
Hammer Creek is known for its immaculate masterpieces of letterpress printing in tiny editions. Beautifully conceived and printed, John Fass worked slowly to achieve perfection, hence the turtle press device and his Press motto ‘Festina Lente’ [Hurry slowly]. At this time he also produced a series of leaf prints, printing directly onto Japanese tissue.