Thomas Bird Mosher -- Pirate Prince of Publishers.
A Comprehensive Bibliography & Source Guide to The Mosher Books Reflecting
England's National Literature & Design. With an Introduction by William
E. Fredeman. New Castle, Delaware: Oak Knoll Press; London: The British
Library, 1998. xvi, 536 pp. (including 44-page descriptive
index); 230 illustrations and eight-page color section; tables, charts,
graphs. Entries arranged in alphabetical order by book title.
This groundbreaking work describes the books produced by the American
publisher, Thomas Bird Mosher, whose editions helped convey England's
literature and design to the American public. The penetrating and
insightful introduction by Dr. William E. Fredeman, one of the foremost
Pre-Raphaelite scholars of our day, gives the much fuller context within
which Mosher promulgated his unique publishing venture. Additionally,
Fredeman describes the full array of extraordinary features found in this
work. This exhaustive study not only provides abundant new primary
research, including new evidence on royalties paid, but also presents the
material in a novel way. An overview with tables & graphs, and a set of
highly useful appendices, neatly combine and cross-reference with the
work's primary bibliography. Also, for the first time, the reader is
presented with two check-lists of Mosher Press publications later printed
by Mosher's "successors." The book's opening section is particularly
useful in clearly presenting the various series, privately printed books,
and books printed on vellum. The section on binders and bindings
(illustrated in full color) adds yet another dimension showing the respect
Mosher's imprints command. There is also a revealing section presenting
both acclaims and criticisms of Mosher's publishing. A descriptive index,
and an annotated and cross-referenced bibliography on Mosher himself,
round out the book's strengths.
Hatch, Benton L., compiler and editor.
A Check List of the Publications of Thomas Bird Mosher of Portland
Maine MDCCCXCI MDCCCCXXIII With a Biographical Essay by Ray Nash.
Amherst, MA: Printed at the Gehenna Press for the University of
Massachusetts Press, 1966.
215 pp., including a 42-page index.
Nineteen tipped in title page facsimiles, and three other illustrations
accompany the text. Entries are arranged chronologically by year of
publication.
A pioneering effort of great merit, and the primary bibliography for many
years. This bibliography is beautifully printed on Fabriano paper under
Leonard Baskin (pressman Harold McGrath) at The Gehenna Press. The work
should be consulted for extensive details on pagination, and is referenced
many times in Bishop's Thomas Bird Mosher -- Pirate Prince of
Publishers. There is an excellent biographical essay on pp. 9-39 by
Ray Nash (unfortunately Nash does not give the location sources for three
critical documents cited or quoted at length), and the bibliography
contains a comprehensive index.
Ransom, Will.
Selective Check Lists of Press Books. A Compilation of All
Important & Significant Private Presses, or Press Books Which Are
Collected. New York: Philip C. Duschnes, 1945
(Reprinted, New York: James Cummins, 1992), pp. 182-210.
The 336 entries are divided between The Mosher Books, and privately
printed books of The Mosher Press. This was the first nearly comprehensive
bibliography of Mosher's publications aside from the Mosher catalogues
themselves, and lists the first appearances within each series. It also
cross-references to the same title published in different series.