Nonesuch Press: Difference between revisions

{{refimproveUse dmy dates|date=DecemberApril 20112022}}

Nonesuch Press's first book, a volume of [[John Donne]]'s ''Love Poems'' was issued in May 1923. In total, the press produced more than 140 books. The press was at its peak in the 1920s and 1930s, but continued operating through the mid-1960s. During the late 1930s and throughout the 1940s, Meynell ceded control of the Presspress to George Macy, founder and owner of the Limited Editions Club. In the early 1950s, however, Meynell united with the owner of [[The Bodley Head]], [[Max Reinhardt (publisher)|Max Reinhardt]], and resumed control of Nonesuch. During the final years of the Presspress's existence, its remit was extended to include editions of classic children's books, such as [[E. Nesbit]]'s ''[[The Story of the Treasure Seekers|The Treasure Seekers]]'' and [[Andrew Lang's Fairy Books|Andrew Lang's fairy tales]] (these formed part of the Presspress's Cygnet impression).

Nonesuch was unusual among private presses in that it used a small [[printing press|hand press]] to design books (an [[Albion press]]),<ref name=Dearden92 /> but had them printed by commercial [[Printer (publisher)|printers]]: for example, the [[Birmingham]]-based [[Kynoch Press]].<ref>[http://www.typographichub.org/research/entry/kynoch-press-project/ based"The inKynoch Birmingham.Press"], The Typographic Hub.</ref> The purpose of this method was to produce book designs with the quality of a fine-press but available to a wider audience at lower prices. Meynell also wanted to demonstrate that "mechanical means could be made to serve fine ends."<ref>Francis Meynell, ‘Personal"Personal element’element", in [[A. J. A. Symons|Symons, A. J. A., Meynell]], Francis, Meynell and Flower, Desmond Flower, ''The Nonesuch centuryCentury: an appraisal, a personal note and a bibliography of the first hundred books issued by the Press, 1923-1934'' (London: Nonesuch Press, 1936), p. 43].</ref> He believed that the production of exquisitely designed and produced books was not the preserve of the private press predicated upon the example established by [[William Morris]]'s [[William Morris#The Kelmscott Press|Kelmscott Press]], which emphasized the primacy of the handpressed book.

Among the press's best-known editions were the collected works of [[William Congreve (playwright)|William Congreve]] and [[William Wycherley]] and translations of [[Miguel Cervantes|de Cervantes]] and [[Dante Alighieri|Dante]]. A number of illustrated editions were also produced. Nonesuch's editions are prized by collectors; particularly rare and well-designed editions can sell for more than £1000 ($1774 U.S.).{{cncitation needed|date=September 2012}}

In November 2005, [[Barnes and& Noble]] issued reprints of the Nonesuch editions of [[Charles Dickens]]'s novels, including ''[[Bleak House]]'', ''[[Great Expectations]]'' and ''[[Hard Times (novel)|Hard Times]]'', the Christmas Books, ''[[David Copperfield (novel)|David Copperfield]]'', ''[[Oliver Twist]]'', and ''[[Nicholas Nickleby]]''. A second set of reissues was released in November 2008, including ''[[A Tale of Two Cities]]'', ''[[Martin Chuzzlewit]].'' and ''[[Little Dorrit]]''.

* [[John Dreyfus|Dreyfus, John]]. ''A History of the Nonesuch Press'' (Cambridge University Press, 1981) {{ISBN|0370303970}}

[[Category:BookSmall press publishing companies of the United Kingdom]]