[Signed] [First Edition] A Descriptive Bibliography Of The Books Printed At The Ashendene Press, MDCCCXCV-MCMXXXV. C. H. St. John Hornby

DESCRIPTION: Large quarto (4to), 13 1/2 x 91/4 inches (34.5 x 23.5 cm). Limited edition, no. 360 0f 390 copies. Hand-printed in red and black with Ptolemy type on paper specially made by Joseph Batchelor & Sons. Wood engraved frontispiece of Hornsby standing in front of a hand press. Begins with a 16-page foreword by Hornsby giving an historical overview of the Ashendene Press with his description of the early days at the end of the 19th century of special interest. Followed by detailed bibliographical descriptions of all Ashendene books and ephemera. The descriptions are illustrated with a combination of woodcuts, plates of facsimiles, specimen leaves and photogravures of various bindings. Concludes with chapters on ephemera, examples of woodcuts, specimens of initials, watermarks, examples of title pages, illustrations of bindings and specimens of Ashendene types. Several initial letters hand-painted by Grailly Hewitt. Binding is a rich polished cordovan calf with gilt Ashendene printer's device on front cover, gilt titling on spine, five raised bands, top edge gilt. 4-page prospectus ("A Farewell Notice to the Subscribers") and two sheets with a reproduction from an original wood-cut used in the Ashendene Press edition of Le Morte Darthur laid loosely inside the covers. Book is protected with glassine and an archival clear Grafix Dura Lar dust wrappers, housed in a thick custom linen-covered clamshell box._____CONDITION: Small neat ex-libris on front pastedown, lower portion of front hinge and lower front corner neatly, professionally refurbished, covers free of scratches and scuffs. spine slightly faded and wrinkled as is often the case. Overall, a near fine (NF) copy._____DISCUSSION: This is one of the greatest private press bibliographies of the twentieth century and it provides beginning collectors with an outstanding overview of the Ashendene press and its editions. An added bonus: the tipped-in leaves include one from the superb abandoned Japanese vellum edition of Daphnis and Chloe._____NOTE: Domestic shipping cost with UPS Ground is $30. International shipping cost with USPS International Priority Mail to Canada and the United Kingdom is $75. Shipping cost to more distant locations may incur additional cost.