GOLDEN COCKEREL PRESS. SAINSBURY, Hester. A.F. ~ The Ladies' Pocket Book of Etiquette by A.F. (1838).
4 copper engravings by Hester Sainsbury. No. 480 of 500 copies. Printed by Robert Gibbings in Caslon Old Face type on hand-made paper. 18 x 11.5 cms, original parchment backed, printed patterned paper covered boards, pink silk marker, with the original red printed dust jacket. Slight darkening to spine and very mild browning to ffep, jacket chipped at head and tail of spine and corners and a little soiled at spine and edges. Generally a good bright copy.
A charming etiquette book covering, introductions, salutations, dress, fashion, visitors and visiting, gossiping, tattling, dancing, marriage, servants etc.
Hester Margaret Sainsbury (1890-1967) was a self-taught artist and wood engraver of some distinction and her colouring is full of invention and charm. David Gentleman commented on her work that it is the work of an artist - not over-refined, not too “craft-based”. She produced four books for Frederick Etchells and Hugh Macdonald under their Haslewood Books imprint as well as making work for the Golden Cockerel Press in its Robert Gibbings era and the Cresset Press Ovid.
Hester Sainsbury was to marry Frederick Etchells in 1932.