Wayzgoose Press - Private Impressions
Helping to redress the imbalance in the general understanding of what constitutes quality book production
(Wayzgoose Press) Private Impressions (No. 1-8). Plus Introduction. A collection of monographs about printing and other book arts. Written by Mike Hudson & Jadwiga Jarvis. Katoomba. NSW Australia. 1995-1996. 2000-2001 n.p. 11.75″ x8.25″. Illustrated with appropriate examples of printing from the periods under discussion, hand set and printed letterpress in several colors on Mohawk Superfine 148 gsm. and stitched into stiff printed wrappers with the monograph number highlighted in color. The set includes the 8-page wrappered Prospectus produced in 1995.
The Introduction to Private Impressions is No. 13 in an edition of 45 copies.
Nos. 1-4: A Pressing Argument, May 1995; It goes against the Grain …, August, 1995; Broadly Speaking, November 1995; Printers & Politics, February 1996.
All Nos. 1-4 in an edition of 50 copies signed by Hudson and Jarvis.
Nos. 5-8: Evolution (including Introduction.) June 2000. Tells the story of the early Greek convention of ‘aural reading’from papyrus rolls, through the Dark Ages and the monastic traditions. The ‘invention’ of the Carolingian manuscriptstyle and the rise of secular, silent reading practices in the early Renaissance.
No. 6: Revolution. Presents the Gutenberg Bible as the beginning not just of a new technological age but as the start ofthe compromise work practices that mass production activities encourage.
No. 7: discusses the fits and starts of the book trade and the drive for rationalization of techniques at the expense ofthe creative potential of authorship throughout the 20th century. The value of Stanley Morison’s & Beatrice Warde’ssobering influence is examined and questioned.
No. 8: Re-evaluation. Weighs the benefits to text and reader of an individual and creative approach to book design,typography and illustration against the losses inflicted by mass production principles.
Nos. 5-8 are number No. 13 in an edition of 60 copies signed and numbered by Hudson and Jarvis. Fine.
In the prospectus announcing this series of monographs, Jarvis and Hudson write “there is surprisingly little published material concerning the nature, craft, technology or philosophical rationale of why and how such things as private presses actually exist - particularly in these days of electronic data transmission. We hope to redress this imbalance in the general understanding of what constitutes quality book production by publishing monographs on the art & craft of letterpress printing, wood engraving, wood and linocutting, typography and layout, binding, book design, private press history, etc.”
The Wayzgoose Press published these excellent monographs to redress some of the gaps in our knowledge of the art and craft of handhand-printed bookmaking
Related items: Books About Books, Fine Printing & Private Press, Jadwiga Jarvis, Mike Hudson, Wayzgoose Press