Aeschylus. c. 525/4-c. 456/5 BCE.

[The Oresteia].

London, Chiswick Press for Emery Walker, Sydney Cockerell and Alfred W. Pollard 1904.

4to (265 x 188 mm.). 194, [1]p. Proctor’s “Otter” Greek type (roman for colophon), printed in red and black throughout on custom, otter watermarked paper by Joseph Batchelor & Sons.

Publisher’s original Kelmscott-style linen-backed blue boards (foxed), printed spine label (chipped at creases).

            THE FIRST BOOK PRINTED IN INCUNABULIST ROBERT PROCTOR’S OTTER TYPE. Inspired by the Kelmscott Press, Proctor (1868-1903) created his own ideal Greek font based on that designed for the magisterial Complutensian Polyglot Bible (Alcalá 1514-17). He added sympathetic capitals and an improved scheme of accentuation, and he commissioned E.P. Prince — punchcutter of William Morris’ Golden Type and the Doves Type — to cut it. The edition was in proof when, in 1903, Proctor disappeared in the Alps. His friends Walker, Cockerell and Pollard oversaw its completion. this copy is inscribed by cockerell to robert noel christie, son of textile designer and historian Grace Christie and architect A.H. Christie (inscription dated 24.IIX.1921). In very good condition.
¶Scholderer, Greek Printing Types 1465-1927 15; Bowman, “Robert Proctor’s ‘Otter’ Greek Type” in Transactions of the Cambridge Bibliographical Society 9 (1989) 381-98; Updike, Printing Types: Their History, Forms and Use II: 215-6; Cave, The Private Press 324-7; Bidwell, Fine papers at the Oxford University Press 45, sample 3.

Item #12601

Price: $1,800.00