The Golden Cockerel

The Golden Cockerel Press, London, concentrates on the production of new scholarly editions of the classics, previously unpublished records and first editions of modern authors of literary distinction, all finely printed and produced under the personal supervision of Mr Christopher Sandford, proprietor since 1933. Mr Sandford is quite unique among publishers. He likes to do almost everything himself, even to writing his own letters and sticking his own stamps. With one man, part time, to sell the books and keep accounts, he attends to all the editorial and publication himself. In planning his books, literary content is, of course, his prime consideration. Then comes fine printing of the type and illustrations on durable rag paper. Illustrations engraved on wood or copper harmonise wonderfully with type, and the Golden Cockerel has exploited this as no other press has done. During the page 149 twenties the illustrators were Eric Gill, Robert Gibbings, Eric Ravilious, David Jones, Blair Hughes-Stanton, Agnes Miller-Parker and John and Paul Nash. More recently there have been John Buckland-Wright, Clifford Webb, Reynolds Stone, Gwenda Morgan, Peter Barker-Mill, John O'Connor and Dorothea Braby. The editions are limited, a small proportion of the number being specially bound and sometimes signed. The bindings are notable for fine workmanship and sympathetic design. Marbled paper, when employed, are a revelation.

Cockalorum is a bibliography of the Golden Cockerel Press from June 1943 to December 1948. There are specimen illustrations from the twenty-six books listed, details concerning format, price, etc., and delightful notes on each book by Christopher Sandford. There are biographical studies of Dorothea Braby, John Buckland-Wright (born in New Zealand in 1897) and Clifford Webb. In Memoriam records tributes to the late Eric Ravilious by Christopher Sandford and Mrs Ravilious speaking in the B.B.C. Third Programme. John O'Connor, a former pupil, recalls Ravilious as a teacher.

Printing for Love and Printing and Life, both by Sandford, brings us to the final page, leaving just room for a Cockerel device by Buckland-Wright.

The lending library has had its influence on contemporary book production. A great many books that do not find a permanent home on the private bookshelf are circulated through the library. Save that the bindings need strengthening, the books generally are well enough suited to the purpose. The type is clear and reasonable in size. The book jacket announces the title and flavour of the book, and on the flaps there is usually a brief summary of the nature of the contents. Then there is the inexpensive pocket edition, clearly set on cheap paper and ideal for tram or bus. But there are the books that we want to read more than once, books that we want to enjoy as book-craft, and the Golden Cockerel gives us these. Books that cost a little more because they are not mass-produced. Not that a massproduced book need be badly designed, but refinements in such matter as page

The editors of Design Review apologize for the late publication of the March-April and of this issue.

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proportions, margins and bindings and the extra trouble involved in fine printing of text and illustrations on handmade paper are economically the prerogative of the private press and the limited edition.