Early Printing in California

[San Francisco]: The San Francisco Club of Printing House Craftsmen, 1949. First Edition. Hardcover. Fine/near fine. First printing, miniature book, 66 pp. A short essay on early California printing by San Francisco bookbinder and typographer, Herbert Fahey. This work was the genesis for his later important book published by The Book Club of Califronia, "Early Printing in California", in 1956. Dedicated to the Thiriteth Annual Convention of The International Association of Printing House Craftsmen, Inc., with the title page designed by Haywood Hunt.

Herbert (1894-1959) and Edna Peter (1897-1974) Fahey opened their workshop (out of their home) (truncated) in San Francisco, in 1935, upon their return from a European tour. During the four years of travel they studied with master binder Ignaz Wiemeler in Germany for six months; in France, with several binders for two years including Mlle. M. Morin-Pons; and in London with Douglas Cockerell and Thomas Harrison.

After only a year they realized that bookbinding was not bringing in sufficient income; Herbert took a position as foreman of the composing room with Patterson & Hall, but he and his wife, Peter (Edna Peter) continued to both bind books and teach for the rest of their lives. They were involved in the book clubs of the Bay Area, including The Book Club of California and the Roxburghe Club (SF) and had a strong influence on later generations of binders. (Note that the above info mostly taken from an article written about Edna Peter Fahey the year of her death, by Duncan H. Olmstead, published in the "Guild of Book Workers Journal", Volume XIII, Number 1, dated Fall 1974.)

This item seemingly scarce in the marketplace, as of this writing there are no other copies online.

___DESCRIPTION: Bound in full red cloth over (cardboard) boards, black lettering stamped onto the spine, title page vignette of a printing press, frontis a reproduction of the title page of the "most important book printed in Spanish California" ("Manifesto a la Republica Mejicana"); larger miniature (3 3/4" by 2 5/8"), pagination: [1-4] 5-63 [1, colophon]. In a wrapper of clear acetate; likely as issued, but we were unable to confirm this.

___CONDITION: Fine, with clean boards, straight corners without rubbing, a strong, square text block with solid hinges, the interior is clean and bright, and entirely free of prior owner markings; a bit of offsetting to the endpapers, else fine. The acetate wrapper near fine, free of edgewear or tears, with a modicum of light marks.

___POSTAGE: International customers, please note that additional postage may apply as the standard does not always cover costs; please inquire for details.

___Swan's Fine Books is pleased to be a member of the ABAA, ILAB, and IOBA and we stand behind every book we sell. Please contact us with any questions you may have, we are here to help. (Inventory #: CNBR473)