The St Bride Notebook
Eric Ravilious cut 42 wood engravings for the Kynoch Press Notebook of 1933, delightful vignettes that stand among the best of his engraved work. To celebrate the centenary of Ravilious’ birth, the Friends of the St Bride Printing Library have commissioned Incline Press to design and print a new edition of the engravings.
Dr Caroline Archer, in writing her history of the Kynoch Press, had discovered the home of the original engraved blocks; their owner was pleased to have them all used again for the first time since 1933. Ann Ullman, Ravilious’ daughter, generously waived copyright charges on this use to aid the fund raising activities of the Friends of the St Bride Printing Library. The notebook section of this new edition follows the style of the original with one engraving to each open page, but we have chosen to use a larger page so they are not as crowded as before. Also we are using an archival quality paper to avoid paper discolouration.
There are two essays in the book: Caroline Archer has introduced the book with an account of the work done by Ravilious for Kynoch Press, who were one of the few printing firms in England considered responsible for innovative work in the 1920s and 1930s. She also begins a reappraisal of Ravilious’ letterforms, engraved for Kynoch and other clients. The second essay is a reprint, specially edited for this celebratory book, of Robert Harling’s introduction to ‘The Engravings of Eric Ravilious’, published by Shenval Press in 1946 and quickly reprinted. This was the first critical appreciation of the whole of Ravilious’ engraved work. We do not think it has been surpassed by any subsequent writing, and so are particularly pleased that the author has allowed us to include it here.
Edition details
The ‘A’ edition is issued without limitation, printed on acid-free paper in Bembo types. They are machine trimmed and bound, in full cloth over boards. Copies can be ordered form Barry McKay Rare Books, Kingstone House, Battlebarrow, Appleby-in-Westmorland, Cumbria CA16 6XT. Web site: Barry McKay Rare Books on AbeBooks. Email: barrymckay@btinternet.com.
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