WHITTINGTON PRESS. BIDWELL, John. ~ Fine Papers at the Oxford University Press.
No. i of 65 special copies with an additional portfolio of 25 whole sheets of paper. The book has 40 tipped-in specimens of handmade papers from the Oxford University Press collection. 2 plates of photographs of paper mills and techniques, and examples of watermarks. One of 300 copies, this no. 85. Set in Centaur type (from matrices originally belonging to Oxford University Press) and printed at the Whittington Press on Zerkall mould-made paper. Pp. 85 [plus 40 leaves of specimens]. Folio, bound by the Fine Bindery in original half green duck egg blue morocco over green Fabriano Roma paper boards, the portfolio is green cloth and dark green paper covered boards, housed in the green clamshell box with a leather spine label the length of the spine. A fine copy with ‘The Whittington Press’ written in pencil on the first blank by John Randle.
With descriptions of each of the specimens, and the mills where they were produced, which include T.H. Saunders, Strathmore, Papeteries de Rives, Barcham Green and Batchelor & Sons, among many others.
This press copy includes John Randle’s sketch design for the title page, together with copies of three reviews of the book and 6 pieces of correspondence with long comments about the book to John Randle from the author John Bidwell and David McKitterick, Jerry Kelly and others.