John Henry Nash, Printer; Legend and Fact in the Development of a Fine Press, Intimately Reviewed

Oakland: The Westgate Press [printed by Alfred and Lawton Kennedy], 1948. First and Limited Edition. Hardcover. Near fine. One of 235 copies, octavo size, 79 pp. John Henry Nash (1871-1947) was one of the pre-eminent printers in the early part of the 20th century, printing high-quality editions at his printshop in San Francisco. He quickly gained a reputation for exceptional precision and attention to detail from his earliest years as a printer, when he was in complete charge of design and production for Paul Elder under the Tomoye Press imprint, and later formed a part of the firm Taylor, Nash and Taylor. He opened his own establishment in 1916 which he operated successfully until the early 30s, when, as a result of the changing economy following the Great Depression, continuing was no longer possible.

This work provides a fascinating glimpse into the life of the man himself as well as his operation. Written by Joseph Fauntleroy who worked for Nash first as a compositor and subsequently as supervisor, his acquaintance with Nash over the span of many years gave him a unique view into both the person and work of John Henry Nash.

___DESCRIPTION: Quarter tan linen spine with paper covered boards, paper spine label with black lettering, fore- and bottom edges uncut, frontis a tipped-in reproduction of a photograph of Nash by Will Connell, marginal chapter/book titles in red throughout, tipped-in reproduction of a photograph of FauntLeRoy by Lenhardt follows the introduction, first page of text with a lovely eight-line initial capital in blue and gold, Errata slip bound in at the colophon; octavo size (9" by 6 3/8"), pagination: [i-iii] iv-viii, [1] 2-71, limited edition of 235 copies, this no. 203.

___CONDITION: Near fine, with clean boards (other than a very small spot on the back board), straight corners without rubbing, a strong, square text block with solid hinges, the interior is clean and bright with most signatures unopened, and entirely free of prior owner markings; some marks to the cloth shelfback (may be offsetting from the glue used), spine label sunned and a bit rubbed (text still legible), front board very slightly bowed, and some light offsetting to the endpapers. Overall a better than very good copy of a fascinating look into John Henry Nash by a man who knew him likely about as well as any.

___CITATION: Harlan, "John Henry Nash, The Biography of a Career" p. 37.

___PROVENANCE: In pencil at the top of the rear pastedown is written "7/11/49 | Lawton Kennedy". Presumably this written by Kennedy himself, this may have been his copy (which could account for the unopened signatures).

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