GILL, Eric. ~ Twenty-five Nudes.
Two original lead and wood printing blocks and two electrotype plates for Gill’s 25 Nudes, printed by Hague & Gill Ltd and published by J.M. Dent & Sons Ltd. In 1938.
1. ‘The number 25’. Line block for the cover and half title to Twenty-five Nudes.
2. ‘Monogram EG’. Line block for the cover and half title to Twenty-five Nudes.
3. “Three Female Nudes”. Line block for the title to Twenty-five Nudes.
Cut by Ralph Beedham from Eric Gill’s design and then worked on.
4. “25 Nudes and EG”. Line block for the cover and half title to Twenty-five Nudes.
Cut by Ralph Beedham from Eric Gill’s design and then worked on.
Together with the proof for the initial letter in the book, printed 4 times on one sheet plus original prints of the number 25 and EG and NUDES printed from the the original larger size woodblocks from which the designs were taken.
Plus a copy of the first edition of the book Twenty Five Nudes with the original dust jacket.
Christopher Skelton in The Engravings of Eric Gill, 1983 regarding the printed title page and wrapper for Gill’s 25 Nudes: “The page was originally printed from line blocks reduced from prints of P968-71” He adds that Ralph Beedham, Gill’s one time assistant, helped Gill with the blocks.
Gill’s relationship with the blocks is strong both as artist and printer as the title page was printed at his press in High Wycombe and the book was Gill’s own production.