Author: Dan Williford

The Two Gentlemen of Verona by William Shakespeare 1901
one of 310 copies printed on handmade paper
Ransom #44

The type used for the Shakespeare volumes was the Avon type which was basically a smaller version of the Vale type.
This page is of interest to bibliophiles and those interested in the printing and construction of books. Note the “c” below the word “day” at the bottom of the image. The “c” means that this is the first page of the third signature in the book. All Vale Press books I have examined are printed in this fashion.

The watermark used for the Vale Shakespeare.

From 1900 to 1903 the Vale Press printed the works of Shakespeare in 39 volumes. Ransom has the following to say about the Vale Shakespeare:

310 sets on special H M [hand made paper] with a mermaid watermark; none on vellum. Tragedies, 1-13; Comedies, 14-27; Histories and Poems, 28-39. The first volume was published in April, 1900, followed by the others at monthly intervals. Three different borders were used, one for each group.

The Race of Leaves by Michael Field, 1901
one of 280 copies printed on paper
Ransom #31

Nymphidia & The Muses Elizium by Michael Drayton
GRAY, John, ed
Publication Date: 1896

By Michael Drayton Esquire. Edited by John Gray, and decorated with woodcut borders and initials by Charles Ricketts. One of 210 copies. 8vo., original patterned boards, grey boards spine, printed label on spine. London: Hacon and Ricketts, With the bookplate of Pickford Waller, showing a robed kneeling figure in profile, holding an open book. Prospectus laid in. Spine a little darkened and foxed, as are the edges. Seller Inventory # 237101

The Passionate Pilgrim & The Songs In Shakespeare’s Plays
Shakespeare, William
Published by London: Ballantyne (Vale) Press,, 1896

Edited by T. Sturge Moore and decorated with a picture and border designed and cut on the wood by Charles Ricketts. Small 8vo., 79 pp. One of 310 copies. Bound in gray paper covered boards with printed paper labels on spine and front cover. Lower corners slightly bumped, else, a fine copy. Tomkinson, p.165. Seller Inventory # ABE-1543919438175

[Vale Press]. GRAY, John Spiritual Poems, chiefly done out of Several Languages by John Gray
London, Printed at the Ballantyne Press for Hacon & Ricketts [Vale Press], 1896.

Crown octavo, cxiii pages, printed on laid paper with the Vale Press watermark, with wood-engraved frontispiece (with a tissue-guard), borders, initials and ornaments by Charles Ricketts.

Original plain papered boards with title-labels on the spine and front cover; edges uncut and partially unopened; covers slightly worn and split at the joints, and a little tanned and marked, with a small production flaw on the front cover; endpapers a little browned and foxed; edges and tissue-guard slightly foxed; a very good copy (internally fine).

One of only 210 copies of the fourth publication from the Vale Press. In his ‘Bibliography of the Books issued by Hacon & Ricketts’ (page xx), Ricketts notes: ‘The greater number of these poems are translations from a variety of authors covering the whole field of Christian Poetry’.

Item #135262

Price (AUD): $1,000.00

THE POEMS OF SIR JOHN SUCKLING ‘This Edition of the Poems and Songs of Sir John Suckling, edited by John Gray and decorated with Woodcut Border and Initials by Charles Ricketts, under whose Supervision the Book has been printed by the Ballantyne Press.’ [from colophon].
SUCKLING, SIR JOHN. GRAY, JOHN, edited by. RICKETTS, CHARLES, illustrated by.
Published by Sold, by Messrs. Hacon Ricketts, at the sign of the Dial, LII Warwick Street, Regent Street., London, 1896

Secondary link, more photos.

8vo, in fours. 6 x 9.25 inches. [2] + cxvii [117] pp. Bound in half light green cloth over patterned green boards, spine with paper title label. Deckled edges. Some wear and darkening of extremities and joints starting to crack; otherwise a very good copy. Decorated by wood engraved initials and decorative title page border. Private press edition of the works of the Cavalier poet, Sir John Suckling (1609-42), who fought for Charles I in the first Scottish War of 1639, but fled into exile before Parliament convicted him of high treason. Edited by John Gray (1866-1934), poet, Catholic priest and friend of Oscar Wilde, 1891-93. Illustrated by Charles Ricketts (1866-1931), artist, typographer and book illustrator, who worked for Oscar Wilde and who founded the Vale Press in 1896, one of the leading private presses of the day, which was responsible for the publication of this book. ART / LITERATURE POETRY POETRY 17TH CENTURY ART / LITERATURE. Seller Inventory # 26865

The Book of Thel, Songs of Innocence, and Songs of Experience. [Together with:] Poetical Sketches.
VALE PRESS: BLAKE, William.
Published by London: Printed at the Ballantyne Press, sold by Hacon and Ricketts, 1897 & 1899

The Vale Press editions of William Blake’s works, each one of 210 copies printed on paper. This is a beautiful set of these attractive publications. Ransom, Vale Press 9 & 22. 2 volumes, octavo. Original blue paper-covered boards, paper title labels to spines and front covers, fore and bottom edges untrimmed. Engraved title pages, historiated initials, and decorations to the text, all by Ricketts. Spines toned, hint of rubbing to board edges, browning to endpapers, offsetting to gutter of Book of Thel title page, else contents notably clean, a lovely pair in very good condition indeed. Seller Inventory # 156707

Bibliographic Details

Title: The Book of Thel, Songs of Innocence, and …

Publisher: London: Printed at the Ballantyne Press, sold by Hacon and Ricketts, 1897 & 1899

Vaughan, Henry. The Sacred Poems. London: Ballantyne Press [Vale Press], 1896. Limited to 210 copies. Wood-engraved frontispiece and opposite page within honeysuckle leaf borders, and ornamental initials, all by Charles Ricketts. This book is the only Vale Press publication in which these borders were used, and where the colophon is printed in the form of a cross.

Bound in full dark blue crushed morocco by John Grabau, with triple gilt ruled design accented with dots and small flowers. Front cover features a small circular centerpieces of leaves and flowers. Similar design to large center spine compartment, with title in second compartment and dots & flowers in remaining compartments. Double thick blue and orange headbands. Gilt ruled turn-ins, signed “-BEST- GRABAU”, presumably indicating this volume was a gift. Metallic textured endpapers. Top edge gilt. Housed in a fleece-lined slipcase covered in the same material. Bookplate on front pastedown of Cleveland industrialist William G. Mather (1857-1951). Measures 5.25″ x 7.75″. Some light rubbing to joints, with some fading and light wear to spine. Slipcase sunned and with some edgewear. 

Grabau was a protégé of Louis H. Kinder and worked with the Roycrofters from 1902-1905. He left to found the short-lived Derome Bindery in Buffalo, and shortly thereafter, he and D.J. Bunce founded The Garret Bindery, also in Buffalo. For the majority of his career, however, he bound under his own name. 

THE POEMS AND SONNETS OF HENRY CONSTABLE – Edited from Early Editions and Manuscripts By John Gray
Constable [Henry]
Published by Vale Press, Printed at the Ballantyne Press, London, 1897

About this Item

Limited edition of 210 copies, woodcut borders and decorations executed by Charles Ricketts, top edge gilt, others untrimmed, marbled endpapers to match the contemporary green half morocco and paper-covered boards, armorial bookplate of Michael Tomkinson, spine gilt lettered and decorated, printed at the Ballantyne Press, 1897. Henry Constable (1562-1611) Poet, courtier, soldier and Catholic convert. Size: 8vo. Seller Inventory # 009779

Bibliographic Details

Title: THE POEMS AND SONNETS OF HENRY CONSTABLE – …

Publisher: Vale Press, Printed at the Ballantyne Press, London

Publication Date: 1897

Binding: Green Half Morocco

Illustrator: Charles Ricketts

Condition: Very Good

Dust Jacket Condition: No Jacket as Published

Edition: Limited Edition.

Book Type: Poetry