Isador Mendle Collection on the History of Printing, 1859-1974 | MS Manuscripts

Printer-friendly |

Collection Overview

Title: Isador Mendle Collection on the History of Printing, 1859-1974

Predominant Dates:1859-1974

ID: MS/MS/ms082

Primary Creator: Mendle, Isador

Extent: 10.0 Boxes

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The Mendle Collection has seven main groupings. The first of these is the collection of James Moran Papers. Moran, a British author and historian of printing, wrote several books relating to printing, including a biography of British scholar and typographer Stanley Morison. Moran's papers consist primarily of material toward his books. The Ellic Howe Papers are another important part of the collection. These consist of Howe's (a British printer) notes on the history of the printing trade, including many interesting documents, and copies of his lectures. Correspondence makes up the bulk of the John G. Wilson materials. Wilson was a British book dealer, and his correspondence provides an inside view of the book trade. Two fine presses are also represented in the collection; the Alcuin Press and Gogmagog Press materials show book production in its various stages. An album of designs by artist and historian of French bookbinding Leon Gruel shows another fascinating aspect of book production. Finally, there are 10 groups of correspondence to and from various people in the book or printing trades; these letters, because of their variety, present a well-rounded view of the trades they discuss.

Collection Historical Note

The Isador Mendle Collection on the History of Printing was established in the fall of 1968, when Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Mendle made a gift to WashingtonUniversity to establish a collection in memory of Mr. Mendle's father, Isador Mendle. Isador Mendle (1882-1935) was a leader in the development of the printingindustry and new printing techniques in St. Louis, and founded the MendlePress, Inc. Part of the Mendle gift was used to create a new room for the Special Collections Department for housing and service on the Mendle Collection.The other portion of the gift was used to build up a collection of books andrelated materials on the history of printing. Because of Isador Mendle's interest in new printing techniques, it was decided that the collection would focuson developments in printing since the Industrial Revolution, with a special concentration on the last 100 years. The Mendle Collection also includes selective coverage for the years up to the middle 1800's. This register describes the manuscripts and related materials which complement the more than 1,500 volumes in the Isador Mendle book collection.

Administrative Information

Repository: MS Manuscripts

Access Restrictions: Open

Use Restrictions:

Users of the collection must read and agree to abide by the rules and procedures set forth in the Materials Use Policies.

Providing access to materials does not constitute permission to publish or otherwise authorize use. All publication not covered by fair use or other exceptions is restricted to those who have permission of the copyright holder, which may or may not be Washington University.

If you wish to publish or license Special Collections materials, please contact Special Collections to inquire about copyright status at (314) 935-5495 or spec@wumail.wustl.edu. (Publish means quotation in whole or in part in seminar or term papers, theses or dissertations, journal articles, monographs, books, digital forms, photographs, images, dramatic presentations, transcriptions, or any other form prepared for a limited or general public.)

Acquisition Method:

Accession number 1042. Purchase from Bertram Rota Ltd, April 28, 1969.

Accession number 1052. Purchase from Rubinstein, June 6, 1969.

Accession number 1063. Gift of Isador Mendle, August 4, 1969.

Accession number 1069. Gift of Isador Mendle, August 5, 1969.

Accession number 1074. Purchase from Bertram Rota Ltd, August 27, 1969.

Accession number 1075. Gift of Isador Mendle, September 2, 1969.

Accession number 1080. Purchase from Bertram Rota Ltd, September 9, 1969.

Accession number 1089. Gift of Isador Mendle, September 15, 1969.

Accession number 1090. Gift of Isador Mendle, September 16, 1969.

Accession number 1091. Purchase from Bertram Rota Ltd, October 1, 1969.

Accession number 1099. Gift of Isador Mendle, October 20, 1969.

Accession number 1100. Gift of Isador Mendle, October 21, 1969.

Accession number 1105. Gift of Isador Mendle, November 3, 1969.

Accession number 1106. Gift of Isador Mendle, November 3, 1969.

Accession number 1107. Gift of Isador Mendle, November 5, 1969.

Accession number 1112. Gift of Isador Mendle, November 24, 1969.

Accession number 1113. Gift of Isador Mendle, November 24, 1969.

Accession number 1116. Gift of Isador Mendle, December 1, 1969.

Accession number 1117. Gift of Isador Mendle, December 4, 1969.

Accession number 1125. Gift of Isador Mendle, December 18, 1969.

Accession number 1131. Gift of Isador Mendle, January 15, 1970.

Accession number 1147. Gift of Isador Mendle, February 16, 1970.

Accession number 1167. Gift of Isador Mendle, April 2, 1971.

Accession number 1170. Gift of Isador Mendle, April 2, 1970.

Accession number 1208. Purchase from Bertram Rota Ltd, July 2, 1970.

Accession number 1224. Purchase from Bertram Rota Ltd, October 22, 1970.

Accession number 1233. Gift of Isador Mendle, November 11, 1970.

Accession number 1242. Purchase from Hamill & Barker, December 17, 1970.

Accession number 1245. Gift of Isador Mendle, December 28, 1970.

Accession number 1264. Unknown.

Accession number 1267. Purchase from Bertram Rota Ltd, July 19, 1971.

Accession number 1335. Purchase from Colin and Charlotte Franklin, January 20, 1972.

Accession number 1351. Gift of Isador Mendle, October 27, 1972.

Accession number 1377. Gift of Isador Mendle, December 13, 1972.

Accession number 1407. Purchase from Sims, November 25, 1973.

Accession number 1498. Purchase from unknown, August 17, 1979.

Accession number 1740. Gift of Isador Mendle, February 1, 1988.

Preferred Citation: Name of the Collection, Washington University Libraries, Department of Special Collections

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: James Moran Papers],
[Series 2: Ellic Howe Papers],
[Series 3: John G. Wilson correspondence],
[Series 4: Alcuin Press],
[Series 5: Gogmagog Press],
[Series 6: Leon Gruel, bookbinder],
[Series 7: Correspondence],
[Series 8: Miscellany],
[All]

Series 1: James Moran Papers

Consists of material toward Moran's publications on the history of printing, including his biography of Stanley Morison; also reviews, offprints, and clippings. Moran (1917-1978) was a British historian of printing.

Box 1

Folder 1: Printing Presses: Historyand Development From the Fifteenth Century to Modern Times [history] by James Moran, Faber and Faber Limited, London, 1972

Consists of Typescript setting copy and several proofs toward the book.

Typescript setting copy, marked for the printer., (1 item, 298 pages)

Folder 2: Galley proof, corrected.

(1 item, 80 galleys)

Folder 3: Uncorrected page proof

(1 item, 250 pages)

Folder 4: Proofs of plates.

(1 item, 49 pages)

Box 2

Folder 5: Correspondence from R.A. Ashley, the Westerham Press Limited, Kent, to James Moran, from Feb to May 1974, concerning the book's production, [1974]: (3 items, 3 pages)
Folder 6: Typescript setting copy, marked on by the printer, [1974]: (1 item, 109 pages)
Folder 7: Galley proof, [1974]: (1 item, 31 galleys)
Folder 8: Paste-up of specimen pages, [1974]: (1 item, 5 pages)
Folder 9: Page proof, corrected, [1974]: (1 item, 54 pages)
Folder 10: Autograph list of individuals and institutions to receive copies of the book, [1974]: (1 item, 4 pages)

Box 3

Folder 11: Research materials: documents concerning Morison, and typeface information: (12 items)
Folder 12: Correspondence to James Moran (from Morison's acquaintances) relating to Morison, 1967 to 1970.: Correspondence covers , 1967 to 1970. (76 items)
Folder 13: Four Typescripts and one Typescript(carbon) drafts of the book
Folder 14: Galley proof of the book: (1 item, 24 galleys)
Folder 15: Galleys for the book, and notes on the book's production: (1 item)
Folder 16: Autograph draft (partial) in notebook: (1 item, 32 pages)

Box 4

Folder 21-35: Reviews and articles by Moran: Each title is foldered separately and alphabetically, and may consist of Ts, galleys, proofs, or tear sheets.Written from 1960 to 1973 (several are undated). (16 items)2

Box 5

Folder 36: Clippings: Contains clippings of reviews of Moran's books. (21 items)

Series 2: Ellic Howe Papers

Consists of research notes compiled by Howe, a British printer, on the history of the printing trade; also drafts of lectures by Howe.

Sub-Series 1: Material relating to Walter Lewis

Consists of Howe's notes on Lewis, a British printer appointed University Printer at Cambridge in 1923, and a close collaborator of Stanley Morison.

Folder 37: Consists of 1 Typescript and 2 autograph notes made by Howe from interviews with Lewis.: (3 items)

Sub-Series 2: Works by Howe.

A clipping, drafts of Howe's work, and a list.

Folder 38: Times Literary Supplement review of The Trade, edited by Howe, 1943: December 25,: (1 item)
Folder 39-46: Autograph and Typescript drafts of lectures by Howe.
Folder 47: Price list for bookbinding (Typescript), [fragment of book]: (1 item, 8 pages)
Folder 48: Notes on Composing Machines, by Howe.Ts, bound in boards: (1 item, 38 pages)

Sub-Series 3: Source materials on the history of printing.

Typescript and autograph notes and information on the history of the printing trade.

Folder 49: Ts and autograph notes; miscellaneous correspondence from 1937 to 1939 and n.d., from Arthur Rogers (British book dealer), from [Howe] to the Editor of The New York Herald Tribune Books, and from M.J. MacManus (book dealer), all relating to bookbinding; clippings and photos dealing with bookbinding: (25 items)
Folder 50: Collected Typescript excerpts on typesetting and printing, from 1865 to1880: (1 item)
Folder 51-57: unidentified excerpts about books and printing; excerpts from The Gorgon on printing, 1897: Mar 15; 1818: October-December;1830, 1832;1823-1834; 1797 and no date: 1818: Oct-Dec; An Appeal to the Legislature on... the Office of King's Printer, by Samuel Brooke, printer, London, 1830, and Second Appeal, 1832; excerpts from directories of printers, 1823-1834; pricelists of type and stock, 1797 and n.d.; type specimens. All photoreproduced.
Folder 58: Typography, a journal published from Autumn 1936 to Summer 1939: Consists of prospectus and announcement, specially bound for Howe in two volumes, with loose copy laid in. (2 items)
Folder 59: Typescript article, Indexes and Indexing, by Thomas R. Martin, with signed preface by E. Freind. Drawings and article, Tacketting Account Books, laid in: (1 item)
Folder 60: Typescript and autograph notes for unfinished history of printing., 1630-1730,: Includes extracts from W. Boutall, Globe Chapel Minutes, and other sources. Also includes Notes on Some English Types, 1630-1730, attributed to Howe. In green ringbinder notebook, filed on top of boxes. (1 item)0
Folder 61: Type specimens [photocopy]: Laid in brown oversized portfolio,filed on top of boxes. (8 items)

Series 3: John G. Wilson correspondence

Consists of letters from various individuals to Wilson, a British bookdealer and manager of Bumpus Book Dealers, concerning business; also clippings and other miscellany relating to the book trade.

Sub-Series 1: General correspondence

Consists of letters to Wilson, a British book dealer, in his capacity as manager of Bumpus Book Dealers.

Folder 62-72: Correspondence to Wilson from March 1911 to February 1929: (355 items)

Sub-Series 2: Letters laid in books

Consists of one letter by Wilson and one letter to him originally laid in books.

Folder 73: Two letters: Autograph Letter Signed by Wilson to George Bernard Shaw, laid in Sir Hall Caine's The White Prophet; the other a Typed Letter Signed to Wilson from the Monotype Corp., laid in A Selectionof Types from the Country Press: (2 items)

Sub-Series 3: Miscellany

Consists of materials relating to the book trade and literature.

Folder 74: Contains clippings concerning the book trade and literary events, one printed engraving, sales slip, business card, tear sheet from essay on Swinburne, with sketched announcement of same on verso: (8 items)

Series 4: Alcuin Press

Material relating to The Alcuin Press (founded in May 1928 in Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire, as a fine, commercial press.)

Folder 75: (59 items): Consists of type specimens; proofs of illustrations; announcements of publications; various folded book signatures, some illuminated and some on vellum.

Series 5: Gogmagog Press

The Gogmagog Press, London, was a fine press privately run by Morris Cox.During the 1960's Cox produced his work in numbered and signed limited editions.This series consists of materials toward various Gogmagog Press publications, all written by Cox.

Sub-Series 1: Material toward Mummers Fool, 1965.

Consists of drafts, proofs, and other material toward Mummers Fool, by Cox.

Folder 76-81: Contain Typescript drafts, sample intaglio covers, bound dummy, loose proof pages, linoleum print block, and a copy of the finished book: (21 items)

Sub-Series 2: Material toward The Warrior and the Maiden, 1967.

Consists of various materials toward The Warriorand the Maiden, by Morris Cox.

Folder 82-84: Consists of a dummy, linoleum blocks used for illustrations, and a copy of the finished book: (12 items)

Sub-Series 3: Miscellany

Consists of miscellaneous Gogmagog Press materials.

Folder 85: Consists of proof copies of Gogmagog Press publications 14 Triads, 1967, by Cox, A Mediaeval Dream Book, 1963, and Spring, 1966, by Cox; also additional intaglio proof sheets for Spring, 1967, 1963, 1966: (5 items)

Series 6: Leon Gruel, bookbinder

Consists of an album by Gruel.

Folder 86: (1 item): Contains album of original designs for bindings. Sketches and watercolors by Gruel (artist and historian of French bookbinding), bound into half-moroccoand cloth sides.

Series 7: Correspondence

Consists of 10 separate groups of correspondence, mainly to or from people involved in the book or printing trades.

Sub-Series 1: John Thomas Lee correspondence

Consists of correspondence to John Thomas Lee, American bookplate collector.

Folder 87: Contains letters from 1916 to 1932 to John Thomas Lee from various individuals, on the subjects of books and bookplate collecting: Enclosed is photo of J.M. Andreiny (bookplate collector). (10 items)

Sub-Series 2: Joseph Winfred Spenceley correspondence

Consists of correspondence by J.W. Spenceley, American bookplate engraver.

Folder 88: Contains letters from 1897 to 1907 from Joseph Winfred Spenceley to a Miss Firman and J.C. Burnheim, on subject of bookplate collecting: (2 items)

Sub-Series 3: Paul Bennett correspondence

Consists of correspondence to Paul Bennett, American type designer.

Folder 89: Contains letters from 1959 to 1963 from Carl Volmer Nordlunde (Danishprinter) to Paul Bennett, and 3 carbons of letters from Bennett to Nordlunde, concerning the history of printing and typography: (10 items)

Sub-Series 4: Clare Ryan Talbot correspondence

Consists of letter by Clare Ryan Talbot, American bookplate collector,and materials relating to her work.

Folder 90: Consists of letter, ca. 1933, by Talbot. Also included are advertising fliers for her book, In Quest of the Perfect Bookplate, exhibition catalogues for her collection, and loose pages from Ruth Thompson Saunder's The Book of Artists' Own Bookplates., ca. 1933: (7 items)

Sub-Series 5: Stanley Morison correspondence

Consists of letters by Stanley Morison, British type designer (1889-1967).

Folder 91: Contains letters from 1959 to 1962, from Stanley Morison to James Moran, historian of printing, and Morison's biographer.

Sub-Series 6: John Nash correspondence

Consists of letters by John Nash, a British engraver who was one of a group known as the Curwen Press artists.

Folder 92: Contains 2 letters of 1949 from John Nash, a wood engraver, and Mrs. Paul (Margaret) Nash, widow of John's brother (another engraver), to T. Balston, concerning an exhibit of the brother's work. Enclosed in one letter is an auto list of books illustrated with wood engravings by John Nash: (4 items)

Sub-Series 7: S. H. Steinberg correspondence

Contains letters to and from S. H. Steinberg, British historian of printing.

Folder 93: Contains correspondence of 1960 to 1964 between Steinberg and various individuals: Bulk of items are written in German. (8 items)

Sub-Series 8: Edward DeWitt Taylor correspondence

Consists of letters to and from Edward DeWitt Taylor, American printer of Taylor and Taylor Printers, San Fransisco.

Folder 94: Contains correspondence from 1940 between Taylor and Eugene P.Pattberg, historian of printing, concerning Pattberg's book, Types, Borders, and Miscellany: (3 items)

Sub-Series 9: Ellic Howe correspondence

Consists of letters by Ellic Howe, British printer.

Folder 1: Consists of 1943: Jan 31 letter from Howe to S.H. Steinberg, British historian of printing, containing personal news and mentioning Stanley Morison.

Sub-Series 10: Miscellaneous correspondence

Consists of miscellaneous correspondence concerning printing and related subjects

Folder 96: Contains letters from 1859 to 1946 by various individuals, concerningprinting, typography, calligraphy, etc: Includes Autograph Letter Signed, 2 pages., from Stanley Morisonto DeForest Sackett of the Society of typographic arts, and Autogrtaph Letter Signed 2 pages, by Francis Meynell of the Nonesuch Press to Henry Lewis Bullen. (10 items)

Series 8: Miscellany

Consists of a folder of clippings and a folder of various items, mainly correspondence, laid in books purchased with Mendle funds.

Sub-Series 1: Clippings

Consists of clippings from London newspapers.

Folder 97: Contains clippings from various London newspapers, from the 1920's to the 1960's, of articles about the history of Fleet St., the newspaper printing district of London, 1886.: Also includes a 1928 post card relating to the "AntientSociety of Cogers", and a printed, color reproduction of a painting of Fleet St., 1886. (16 items)

Sub-Series 2: Items laid in books

Consists primarily of correspondence laid in Mendle purchase books housed in the Mendle book collection.

Folder 98: Contains extensive correspondence from 1957 to 1965, between Paul Bennett (type designer), and Fritz Eichenberg (woodcut artist), during the latter's tenure at Pratt Institute: (18 items)

Folder 99: Ottmar Mergenthaler medal

Consists a Ottmar Mergenthaler medal.