Dard Hunter

a fine copy of the author's magnum opus. “the most authoritative history of early american papermaking is dard hunter’s sumptuous, large folio papermaking by hand in america, a tour de force on one-man bookmaking, set by the author in a handcut type and hand-printed on handmade paper manufactured at the author’s own mill…hunter spared no expense to record and evoke the paper mills of the preindustrial era” (bidwell). with a 1951 typed letter signed by hunter and a photo of his press affixed to preliminary pages. the letter reflects on the recent passing of hunter's wife; he writes, "mrs hunter has always been a great help to me in the printing of the various books and she will be sadly missed. [...] her demise was a tremendous shock to me and it is now very doubltful if i will ever agian do anything with book production. the edition of "papermaking by hand in america" will be my last...." the thick folio volume was to have been issued in an edition of 210 copies, but the author's own bibliography says that only 180 were completed. this is copy number 45. bidwell, john, “the study of paper as evidence, artefact, and commodity” in the book encompassed: studies in twentieth-century bibliography, ed. peter davison, pp. 69-82; schlosser 41.

415 x 285mm

May 26, 2022 • Christie's

Hammered brass-washed copper, silver

15.88 x 7.62 cm

Jan 20, 2018 • Rago Arts & Auction Center

hammered copper, silver

15.24 x 7.62 cm

May 20, 2017 • Rago Arts & Auction Center

brass-washed copper, silver

15.88 x 7.62 cm

Feb 14, 2015 • Rago Arts & Auction Center

copper and silver

20.32 x 12.07 cm

Oct 18, 2014 • Rago Arts & Auction Center

hammered copper and silver

15.88 x 8.26 cm

Jun 14, 2014 • Rago Arts & Auction Center

hammered copper and silver

15.88 x 8.26 cm

Oct 26, 2013 • Rago Arts & Auction Center

work on paper

Oct 26, 2013 • Rago Arts & Auction Center

ink on illustration board (1); woodblock print (2)

20.32 x 30.48 cm

Oct 27, 2012 • Rago Arts & Auction Center

2 volumes. large 4to. volume i: 194 specimens and 65 black and white illustrations, many of these painstakingly hand-printed to resemble the paper and color from hunter's original drawings; volume ii: 25 color and 75 black and white illustrations, 34 paper specimens, and 23 title page reproductions. prospectus laid in at the front. original chestnut brown half morocco over paper boards printed with a roycroft pattern of pink roses and green leaves, flat spines with gilt titling, leather hinges, edges untrimmed. in the original sturdy linen clamshell boxes with tan morocco labels on spine.

• Bonhams

4to. 85 photogravure illustrations of papermaking in india and 27 specimens of indian paper. original black quarter calf over indian cloth in a floral design, flat spine with gilt titling. in the publisher's (slightly worn) lettered brown cardboard slipcase. short indentation to spine, light thumbing to a couple of leaves, otherwise fine.

• Bonhams

signed limited edition, number 8 of 210 copies, 200 of which were for sale. "the last work of the mountain house press and the author's magnum opus, this book provides a history of american papermaking by listing and describing the first paper mill in each state from 1690 until 1811 ... there are in the book 123 facsimiles of documents and watermarks and forty-two reproductions of labels used by these early paper manufacturers. the thick folio volume was to have been issued in an edition of 210 copies, but the author's own bibliography says that only 180 were completed. the book is printed on dard hunter's paper." an elaborately watermarked sheet of dard hunter's paper laid in. schlosser 41.

• Bonhams