Veni Creator!
New York: Printed by the Harbor Press [for Crosby Gaige], 1927. Hard Cover. Very Good+ binding. Item #9941
12mo. [8] pp., illus. Limited edition, one of 235 copies. Signed by Wolfe. As issued, in pattered-paper over boards. Light soiling and toning to the covers; offsetting to both free endpaper, else clean.
An interesting book, and among the earliest published by Gaige, though his name does not appear in the book. In 1928 Gaige would begin working with the nascent Random House to advertise and distribute his limited editions. This book is also distinguished in the design and embellishments by W. A. Dwiggins. A designer that up to the point had been largely associated with advertisements, his name was little known outside of the printing industry. The designer and design historian Paul Shaw discusses at length the background of this book with particular focus on Dwiggins on his website. An absolutely charming book, most bibliographies agree that it was issued in an edition of 235 copies. This copy is signed by Wolfe on the front free endpaper and noted in his hand that it is one of 30 copies. We speculate that ours, with the presentation and comment from Wolfe may reflect a number which were set aside and signed by the author. Laid in is a 1938 bill of sale from the Carnegie Book Shop to philanthropist, collector, and bibliophile E[lisabeth] P[ost] Morrow. Agner, Books of WAD, 27.05; Ransom, Harbor 6. Klinefelter, Bibliographical Check-List of Christmas Books p. 44; Shaw, Paul. "The Definitive Dwiggins no. 207—Crosby Gaige, Part 1." 26 December 2019.
Price: $350.00