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Lot 62
[HAMMER, VICTOR. 1882-1967.] MILTON, JOHN. 1608-1674. Samson Agonistes. Florence: Stamperia del Santuccio, 1931.
11 December 2020, 10:00 EST
New YorkUS$3,000 - US$5,000
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[HAMMER, VICTOR. 1882-1967.]
MILTON, JOHN. 1608-1674. Samson Agonistes. Florence: Stamperia del Santuccio, 1931.
Folio (340 x 229 mm). Printed in black and bistre. Amateur binding of blue crushed morocco, upper cover with short black and orange lines onlaid at upper left and lower right corners, centerpiece of onlaid black coffin-like ornament entwined by an orange snake, flat spine with onlaid orange sword with gilt titling, ivory moiré silk endleaves, matching velvet-lined orange linen folding box with orange morocco back and lip, onlaid sword on back. Leather a little spotted, soiled, and with slight variation of color, bookplate on front flyleaf, minor foxing.
LIMITED EDITION, number 51 of 95 copies. The first privately printed work produced by Victor Hammer and one of the few he printed in folio. Milton's version of a Greek tragedy recounting the biblical story of Samson and Delilah, instantly recognizable as Hammer's design work, with its clearly Medieval feel, his mounded letters resembling manuscripts from the 11th and 12th centuries rather than the 15th century scribal hands that Gutenberg imitated. The binding is probably by one of two major figures in the California book world, Gale Herrick or his good friend Duncan Olmsted. Herrick was an enthusiastic binder who used Peter Fahey's studio to produce pleasant and creative work, and Olmsted was also a keen amateur binder of fine press books in the style often called "loving hands at home." Both men were collectors as well as founders of the Hand Bookbinders of California. "Victor Hammer: Artist and Printer," p 142; Ransom, p 336.
Folio (340 x 229 mm). Printed in black and bistre. Amateur binding of blue crushed morocco, upper cover with short black and orange lines onlaid at upper left and lower right corners, centerpiece of onlaid black coffin-like ornament entwined by an orange snake, flat spine with onlaid orange sword with gilt titling, ivory moiré silk endleaves, matching velvet-lined orange linen folding box with orange morocco back and lip, onlaid sword on back. Leather a little spotted, soiled, and with slight variation of color, bookplate on front flyleaf, minor foxing.
LIMITED EDITION, number 51 of 95 copies. The first privately printed work produced by Victor Hammer and one of the few he printed in folio. Milton's version of a Greek tragedy recounting the biblical story of Samson and Delilah, instantly recognizable as Hammer's design work, with its clearly Medieval feel, his mounded letters resembling manuscripts from the 11th and 12th centuries rather than the 15th century scribal hands that Gutenberg imitated. The binding is probably by one of two major figures in the California book world, Gale Herrick or his good friend Duncan Olmsted. Herrick was an enthusiastic binder who used Peter Fahey's studio to produce pleasant and creative work, and Olmsted was also a keen amateur binder of fine press books in the style often called "loving hands at home." Both men were collectors as well as founders of the Hand Bookbinders of California. "Victor Hammer: Artist and Printer," p 142; Ransom, p 336.