Collection of ephemeral materials relating to the Gaberbocchus press
| Other Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Kit |
| Language: | English |
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| Item Description: | "Approximately 125 pieces, various formats and sizes, including prospectuses, catalogues, promotional materials, typed and autograph letters, notes, and postcards, invoices, periodicals, proof dust jackets, and Press greeting cards." - bookseller's description. "Founded in 1948 by Polish-born Londoners Stefan and Franciszka (nee Weinles) Themerson, the Gaberbocchus Press produced over 60 titles in its 31 years under the husband and wife editorship. Prior to the Press, whose name is a Latinized form of "Jabberowcky," the Themersons were known for their pre-War Polish experimental films, though only Adventures of a Good Citizen (1937) survives today. Along with many children's books illustrated by Franciszka and authored by Stefan, the Press is also known for publishing the first English translation of Ubu Roi, as well as works by Bertrand Russell and Raymond Queneau. Franciszka, a notable artist and the Press's art director, illustrated many of their publications, including Ubu Roi. Also popular and well-represented in this collection are her charming greeting cards, 36 of which are included here. The collection also includes 44 promotional items, among them prospectuses and catalogues; numerous invoices and pieces of correspondence between the Themersons and Richard Archer, long-time custodian of the Chapin Library at Williams College; and what appear to be the only issues extant of the Gaberbocchus Independent (1956) and Ralph Rumney's Other voices (Jan. 21, 1955), whose contents included a cartoon by Franciszka Themerson and an excerpt of Stefan Themerson's book Wooff Wooff (1951). At the request of the Themersons, the Press was taken over by De Harmonie Press in Amsterdam in 1979." - bookseller's description. Purchased for the Al Lowman Printing Arts Collection and Research Archive by The Cushing Library. |
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| Related Items: | The Cushing Library/Lowman/Book Design copy forms part of the Book Design Section of the Al Lowman Printing Arts Collection and Research Archive. |