Three announcements from the Ashendene Press
Chelsea, England: Ashendene Press, 1931-1935. Three scarce pieces of ephemera from the renowned Ashendene Press. The three items were issued during the final years of the press and includes a farewell notice to its subscribers. The announcements are as follows: 1931: A four page announcement to subscribers that their latest book, Thucydides, would be available shortly. It includes the prices and an order form. The announcement notes that this would be the last Folio to be issued from the press. It goes on to say that their next book, Les Amours Pastorales de Daphnis et de Chloe, would be ready in about a year and would probably be their last book with the possible exception of a Descriptive Bibliography. Finely printed in red and black. The order form is a separate sheet printed on cream paper in very good condition. It has a rust stain at the top margin where a paper clip was attached. The announcement and form light creases where they were folded in the middle. Near fine. Measures 4.5 x 6 inches. 1933: A four page announcement to subscribers: "Announcement of the Last Books to be Issued by the Press." In this announcement, StJ. Hornby writes that although his 1931 announcement included Les amours Pastorales de Daphnis et de Chloé, that edition was "consigned to flames" because of problems with the ink used. He here announced the publication of The Book of Ecclesiasticus, to be issued in 1933 and a new edition of Daphnis et Chloé to be issued in 1934. He states that these will be the last two regular books to come from the press unless circumstances allow for the printing of the Descriptive Bibliography of the Press. The two following pages describe the two books and states the prices for them. In very good condition save for light darkening along the creases where the announcement was folded in the middle. Measures 7.5 inches x 10.75 inches 1935: A four page announcement: "A Farewell Notice to the Subscribers to the Books of the Ashendene Press." It states that the long-promised Descriptive Bibliography is now in preparation, describes it and that it will be a complete account of the work of the Press from its inception to its close. It gives the price and instructs subscribers to order through a bookseller or from St.J Hornby as quickly as possible to avoid disappointment. The announcement closes with the statement, printed in red, that this will be the last book to come from the Ashendene Press. The printer's device of the press is on the cover. The last page has a passage in Latin - " Alas, fleeting, posthumous, the years will slip away, and will not be pitied as the delay of roars and the instant of old age will bring...farewell." Ownership stamp of J. Kyrle Fletcher Ltd. also on last page. With light creases across the middle and along the right margins. Very good condition. Measures 4.5 x 6 inches. PRI/032423. More