Paul Landacre

[San Francisco]: The Book Club of California [designed by Ward Ritchie, printed by the Castle Press], 1982. Limited Edition. Hardcover. Fine/near fine. Landacre, Paul. One of 650 copies, duodecimo size, 59 pp., with prospectus, original dust jacket, the Ex-Libris of Ken and Anna Belle Sexton, with ANS by Anna Belle Sexton. Paul Hambleton Landacre (1893-1963) achieved fame and national recognition for his linocuts, woodcuts and wood engravings. Largely self-taught, he came to the attention of Jake Zeitlin in the late 1920s who was well-connected in the art world and promoted Landacre's work. Rockwell Kent considered him "the finest wood engraver in America" and Ward Ritchie would often commission him for his projects (n.b., quote per Wiki). He would receive several awards during his lifetime, including those from the American Institute of Graphic Arts "Fifty Books of the Year", the Library of Congress, and the Print Club of Philadelphia.

This work, a short tribute to Landacre, opens with "Here is the story of Paul Landacre. It is one of both triumph and heartbreak...." and includes many of his lesser-known works, drawn from Christmas cards, decorations, and announcements. Written by Ward Ritchie, himself renowned in the biblilophilic world, who "as both a friend and a patron, is particularly qualified to write this appraisal and appreciation" (n.b., quote from the bibliography). Also designed by Ritchie, this publication was included in the Exhibition of Western Books (Rounce & Coffin Club).

With the Ex-Libris of Ken and Anna Belle Sexton on the verso of the flyleaf; Anna Belle Compton Sexton (1902-1992) was a descendant of the earliest Irish settlers in Glenn County, California (near Sacramento). She authored a book telling the story of the ranch they founded, "The History of Stone Valley", noting that their Ex-Libris was drawn by Betty Carney in 1967. Loosely laid into the book is a short ANS on her printed letterhead, relating that she owned two of Landacre's books and directing the recipient of the note to a Book Club of California article.

___DESCRIPTION: Decorated paper (with eight small Landacre engravings) over boards with a black linen shelfback stamped with gold lettering, the endpapers reproducing a Landacre engraving, Ex-Libris of Ken and Anna Belle Sexton on the verso of the flyleaf as described above, title page with Ritchie's device, the text opens with a six-line initial capital in green incorporating a Landacre engraving, the book includes a total of sixteen engravings, many printed directly from the original blocks; handset Goudy type, duodecimo size (7 1/4" by 4 5/8"), pagination: [1-6] 7-52, [6, bibliography of "Prints Engraved by Paul Landacre"], [1, colophon]. Laid in is the prospectus, one sheet folded to four pages; also laid in is the short ANS by Anna Belle Sexton as set forth above and which measures 5 1/2" by 4 1/8", her letterhead printed in brown ink. With the original plain paper dust wrapper of ivory laid paper.

___CONDITION: Fine overall, with clean boards, straight corners without rubbing, a strong, square text block with solid hinges, the interior is clean and bright, and other than the Ex-Libris free of prior owner markings; some light foxing to the text block edges and a couple of pages, else fine. Prospectus near fine, with light foxing around the edges and a shallow marginal crease; the ANS fine, clean and unsoiled; the dust wrapper near fine, clean and virtually free of wear, the front panel and spine heavily sunned, light sunning around the eges, and "Paul Landacre" written in blue ink on the spine.

___CITATION: BCC 200th Book, no. 169.

___POSTAGE: International customers, please note that additional postage may apply as the standard does not always cover costs; please inquire for details.

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