Novum Psalterium Pii XII. An Unfinished Folio Edition

Los Angeles, 1955. Limited Edition of 48 copies only; of which this is number 44. Full Blue Morocco Leather Bound. Near Fine/About Fine. xxviii pp., 6 leaves, 1-88 pp., 17-76 pp. 1 leaf, 1 blank leaf. 40cm. Tall Folio. Hardcover. Blue morocco leather over boards, tooled spine and upper cover, stamped in gold leaf. Number 44 of 48 copies, numbered on the colophon as well as on the Countess Estelle Doheny presentation page toward the front and a tipped-in leaf presenting the book to a regional institution. Slim folio (15.5 x 10 inches), full blue morocco, front cover with gilt crucifix and gilt-lettered title, raised bands, bound by the Lakeside Press, housed in a custom archival slipcase, Doheny's leather bookplate affixed to the front pastedown (as it is on each and every of the 48 copies of this work), the main body of the text printed wet paper method on handpress by William Everson; preliminary pages and colophon printed letterpress by Saul and Lillian Marks at the Plantin Press. One of the finest printed books of the entire 20th century. Everson's acknowledged masterpiece as a printer, regarded by many one of the finest examples of fine press work printed in America in the twentieth century, and the finest rendering of the Psalms ever printed. Book Condition: Near Fine copy, tight binding, contents are bright, clean and unmarked; some minor scuffing to the raised bands and spine ends; boards show a few very superficial surface scratches and faint areas of discoloration from normal handling; library bookplate, with withdrawn stamp, tipped-in to the front pastedown, and a small library stamp to the bottom edge of the colophon. Slipcase Condition: about fine, with only the most superficial signs of wear to the black cloth covered archival clamshell case, lined with marbled paper. This is one of only 48 copies. Upon publication sponsored by the Countess Estelle Doheny, the Countess distributed virtually every copy to Institutional Special Collections libraries. These "complete" editions are of the greatest rarity very seldom becoming available for sale. The only copy we've ever seen selling at auction. This copy also includes 3 black and white photographs of Brother Antoninus/William Everson, including one that is signed, inscribed and dated January 1962, presenting this copy to the institution recieving it, by him on the verso; the other photos show him and another man looking over the book (these are dated c.1956 on the verso by an unknown hand). Provenance for this copy number 44, plus accompanying photographs: deaccessioned from a regional institution; includes a letter of deaccession from the institution and copy of our email exchange with director of that institution confirming veracity of letter. A rare opportunity to own a milestone in fine press printing. Citations: "The Printed Book in America" Blumenthal. "William Everson, a Descriptive Bibliography 1934-1976" Barlett & Campo. "William Everson A collection of books etc." Joseph the Provider. "Brother Antoninus projected a six year program to complete a hand-printed edition of the Psalter (`...it is the typographical opportunity of the age: for the first time in nearly two millenium, the Psalter has appeared in a new official text.'). But because of costs, his own religious development, and affairs as his priory, Antoninus was forced to give up after printing 72 pp. (less one signature)."