Shadowrock Rare Books
[Elmer ADLER, Rockwell KENT and others].
Archive of printed ephemera from the publishers of ‘The Colophon’
about 40 pieces from the earliest days
SOLD
Item Details
New York, [Pynson Press], c.1930-1936, Unbound
Generally excellent [see images]
[Elmer ADLER, Rockwell KENT and others]. Small archive of printed ephemera from the publishers of ‘The Colophon. A Book Collector’s Quarterly’. [New York: n.d]-1931-1936.
Circa 40 pieces of paper: flyers, invites, envelopes, invitations to subscribe, news, compliments slip. Various sizes, various paper stocks, various illustrators, etc. [see images]
The Colophon holds a special place in the history of American publishing as a pioneering periodical that blended scholarship, artistry, and craftsmanship. Its collaborative model and commitment to excellence left a lasting mark on the fields of book design, printing, and collecting: the present collection of ephemeral rarities highlights the attention to detail that was such a hallmark of the whole enterprise.
“The Colophon, subtitled A Book Collectors' Quarterly or A quarterly for booklovers, was a limited edition quarterly periodical begun late in 1929 and continuing in various guises until 1950. It was the brainchild of Elmer Adler (1884–1962), founder of Pynson Printers of New York City. His idea was that various printers around the world would be willing to contribute their time and expertise to produce signatures (articles) using their own choice of papers, typography and illustration. These articles would then be bound together in boards by Pynson Printers and marketed to 2,000 subscribers. …
Beginning in early 1930, this "adventure in enthusiasm", as Adler called it, was greeted with public enthusiasm as well, requiring a waiting list for subscriptions. However, it soon ran into difficulty as the Depression made the then costly subscription price of $15 per year difficult for many. By 1935, only 1,700 subscribers could be found. Nonetheless, the quality of The Colophon remained unsurpassed—through the good will of printers, authors and artists—as well as with the help of a number of anonymous financial gifts.” (wikipedia).
Shadowrock Rare Books
Adam Langlands
27 Cleveland St
Lakeville, Ct, 06039
United States
Phone: 8602481547
Cell: 8602481547
Featured Catalogue
Visit Website
Specialities
Nat. History, Bindings, Association copies
More Information
Booth 34
Shipping and Returns
Shipping will always be at cost. Items are returnable for any reason within a reasonable period of time - we will refund the purchase price, but ask that the buyer pays for the shipping.
Open Times
By AppointmentAdditional Information
Shadowrock Rare Books (https://shadowrockrarebooks.com/): a relatively new multi-faceted book business by a relatively old bookman. Starting in the 1970s, Adam Langlands has worked for most of the great auction houses, and been associated with a number of the greatest dealers. He has examined, researched and catalogued a huge range of books representing many subjects, languages, techniques, dates and price-points: from 'Sky-Hi A trip into space with Terry' (1952, kid's transformational book) to the Fox/Bute copy of Audubon's 'Double-Elephant Folio' (sold at auction for $8,802,500). Inspired by their recent move to a home which previously belonged to both George Simenon (of Maigret fame) and Seymour Hacker (founder of Hacker Art Books), Adam and Susu Langlands have decided to continue the literary connection and set up Shadowrock Rare Books. Today's global online marketplace means that there is a danger that the call of the unique will get drowned out by the cries of the banal: it is the mission of Shadowrock Rare Books to rescue and highlight these gems. Joining Getman’s Virtual Book & Paper Fairs was an obvious next step for us – we have cheered him on from the sidelines from the beginning!