AN EXHIBITION OF BOOKS

FROM THE PRESS OF

THOMAS BIRD MOSHER


FROM THE COLLECTION OF
 Norman H. Strouse

January 16th - March 12th, 1967

The Free Library of Philadelphia
Logan Square




INTRODUCTION

THOMAS BIRD MOSHER was a pirate -- at times. But there was passion in his piracy. From his captain's quarters located at 45 Exchange Street, Portland, Maine, he swept the seven literary seas for its treasure of golden literature, and placed it at the disposal of a select circle who loved inspiring thoughts clothed in books of beautiful format.

The writings of Robert Bridges, the Brownings, Shakespeare, William Morris and Andrew Lang of England; Baudelaire, Flaubert, Gautier, Renan from the Continent; Michael Angelo, Virgil, Dante and Plato, from the Mediterranean world; Ecclesiastes, The Rubáiyát, and The Kasidah, from the Middle East; The Song Celestial from the Orient; Walt Whitman, Poe, Emerson, and Thoreau from America; and Stevenson's Father Damien from the Pacific-what other publisher could have amassed such treasure from the great masters of the human heart and tongue!

Thomas Bird Mosher's name is almost as unfamiliar to most people as it has been important in American publishing. He is little discussed today for his influence on the development of fine printing and the private press in this country; yet, wherever in the world the English language is spoken, and men have succumbed to the love of books as artifacts as well as for content, the Mosher colophon is still to be found in the libraries of a select few. They have found in Mosher books an essential and deeply satisfying beauty which springs from the combining of exquisite physical appearance and choice literary content into inseparable harmony.

Thomas Bird Mosher was the founder and sole owner of the Mosher Press for thirty-two years. He entered the arena of fine printing two years ahead of Updike, and, in fact, was the first American to publish books of distinction in limited editions. His first book, the first American edition of George Meredith's Modern Love ( see reviews ), appeared in 1891, the same year that William Morris issued his first book, The Glittering Plain.

Morris and Mosher both loved books. Both were dissatisfied with the ugliness that characterized the bulk of book production at the time. But here the similarity disappears completely. It is true that Mosher tried several frank imitations of Morris' typographical style, the earliest being Hand and Soul in 1898; and even as late as 1912 he went back twenty years to pick up an initial from the Kelmscott Defense of Guenevere for his folio Memories of Lincoln where it made a surprising fit on the title page. But I credit these peccadilloes to irresistible temptation to literary piracy which flavored Mr. Mosher's history, to the delight of so many, and certainly to the fury of a few.

Mosher's first book, Modern Love, set a style all its own, which lasted through thirty-two years of publishing; and although he rang many changes on his basic style, the practiced eye can spot a Mosher book across the full length of any bookstore. No press has tempted the best efforts of so many of the world's great binders as has the Mosher Press, but even when rebound in full leather, whether by the famous Grolier Club Bindery, Zaehnsdorf, or Sangorski & Sutcliffe, there is always something about the dimensions and title of a Mosher book that admits its identity to the Mosher collector on sight.

Mosher produced well over four hundred titles during his lifetime. Each was carefully designed to meet the needs of content, whether in the small 16mo "The Old World Series", the substantial volumes of collected poetry in his "Quarto Series", or the occasional thin folio that turned up in the extensive catchall he called "The Miscellaneous Series". All Mosher books were hand-set and printed on Van Gelder hand-made paper, Japan vellum or pure vellum. Caslon was his favorite type, and he used little touches of color with discrimination, and decorative headpieces and initials with restraint. Most of his books were bound in white vellum paper or in blue, gray or green paper over thin boards with a little printed label for the title on the back, and enclosed in slipcases. Mosher sought to please the eye, to set the proper mood for appreciation of his specially selected treasures.

Although Mosher is not well-known today, authoritative voices spoke highly of him in his time. In a copy of Bruce Roger's privately printed Wordsworth Sonnets, an inscription to Mosher in 1906 reads, "To the Aldus of the 19th Century"; and this was many years before John Henry Nash permitted his printer associates to call him "The Aldus of San Francisco." A. Edward Newton was proud to have paid tribute to Mosher before his death. And such other writers and book-loving gentlemen as Christopher Morley, Richard LeGallienne, William Lyon Phelps and Prof. Harry Lyman Koopman of Brown University, have recognized the permanent obligation American literature and printing owed to the solitary workman at Portland, Maine.

In his 1903 catalogue, Mr. Mosher summarized the results of his first twelve years of publishing, by which time he could list 160 titles, and in the foreword defined his purpose in these words:

First and last, the production of these books has been a labour of love . . . not for mere profit in dollars and cents but from the desire of producing beautiful books at a moderate price-'things of beauty rather than of mere utility' --thereby inducing that personal relationship between craftsman and client without which all doing is labour misapplied.

NORMAN H. STROUSE



CASE 1


The Bibelot Series

  1. SONGS OF ADIEU: A Little Book of Finale and Farewell. One of 25 copies on Japan vellum, Copy No. 1, from Mosher's library. 1893. (I)

  2. OLD WORLD LYRICS: A Little Book of Translations. One of 25 copies on Japan vellum. No. 23 from Mr. Mosher's library. 1893. (II)

  3. FITZGERALD, EDWARD. Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám. One of 25 copies on Japan vellum. 1894. No. 25. (III)

  4. SWINBURNE, ALGERNON CHARLES. Félise: A Book of Lyrics. One of 25 copies printed on Japan vellum, No. 3. 1894. (IV)

  5. MICHAEL ANGELO BUONARROTI. His Sonnets. One of 50 copies on Japan vellum, No. 10. From the Mosher Library. 1895. (V)

  6. ROSSETTI, DANTE GABRIEL. The Blessed Damozel. One of 50 copies printed on Japan vellum. No. 30, from the Mosher Library, 1895. (VI)

  7. MCCARTHY, JUSTIN HUNTLY, M.P. Rubáiyát. One of 100 copies on Japan vellum, 1896. No. 40. (VII)

    English Reprint Series

  8. BRIDGES, ROBERT. Growth of Love. One of 10 copies on large paper Japan vellum, No. 9, signed by Thomas B. Mosher and from his library. 1894. (III)

  9. BRIDGES, ROBERT. Growth of Love. One of 400 copies printed on Van Gelder hand-made paper. 1894. (III)

  10. MEREDITH, GEORGE. Modern Love. One of 10 of the large paper editions on Japan vellum. The first of the Mosher books, signed by him and from his library. 1891. (I)

  11. THOMSON, JAMES. The City of Dreadful Night. One of 400 copies of the small paper edition. 1892. (II)

  12. THOMSON, JAMES. The City of Dreadful Night. One of 10 copies on Japan paper, large paper edition, signed by Mr. Mosher and from his library, 1892. (II)

    Roman numerals in parentheses refer to the series number.


CASE 2


Reprints of Privately Printed Books

  1. SWINBURNE, ALGERNON CHARLES. The Heptalogia. One of 50 copies printed on Japan vellum. 1898. (II)

  2. SWINBURNE, ALGERNON CHARLES. A Year's Letters. One of 450 copies printed on Van Gelder hand-made paper. 1901. (IX)

  3. PATER, WALTER. Essays from The Guardian. One of 100 copies printed at the Chiswick Press for private distribution. 1898. (I)

  4. FITZGERALD, EDWARD. Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám. First ed. reproduced by photo-lithographic process in exact facsimile -- one of 40 copies on Japan vellum, from Mosher's Library, No. 4. 1902. (XII) Brocade Series

  5. STEVENSON, R. L. A Lodging for the Night. One of 425 copies on Japan vellum. 1900. Tissue cover and seal unopened.

  6. WILDE, OSCAR. The Happy Prince and Other Tales. One of 425 copies on Japan vellum. 1904.

  7. HEWLETT MAURICE. Quattrocentisteria. 7th Ed. One of 425 copies on Japan vellum. 1918.

  8. THOMSON, JAMES. Lady of Sorrow. One of 425 Copies on Japan vellum. 1901.

    Reprints from The Bibelot

  9. WATSON, ROSAMUND MARRIOTT. Tares: A Book of Verses. One of 25 copies on Japan vellum. Only edition. 1898. (IV)

  10. MORRIS, WILLIAM. Gertha's Lovers. One of 25 copies on Japan vellum. 1899. Only edition printed. (V)

  11. MORRIS, WILLIAM. Golden Wings, Svend and His Brethren. One of 25 copies on Japan vellum. 1900. Only edition printed. (VIII)

    Old World Series

  12. FITZGERALD, EDWARD. Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám. 1907. One of 50 copies on Japan vellum. This is an unusual edition. Although this ninth edition is substantially different from any preceding editions, and contains almost twice the amount of material of the 1895 edition, mostly through the addition of considerable bibliographical data, Mr. Mosher makes no reference to this edition in any of his catalogues. Yet, both he and Mr. W. Irving Way both recognized the importance of this 9th edition, as evidenced by the inscriptions written on the blank pages preceding the half-title: (I)

    My dear Gable,/ln my opinion/this is the best all-/round up- to-date edn/of Omar I have, or ever/will, issue. It i"all/there" and in such shape/that you have at a/glance every variant./ Sincerely yours/Thomas B. Mosher/Jan. 30,1908.

    My dear Mr. Harris:/l entirely agree/with Mr. Mosher on the/ relative value of/this edition of Omar,/and I congratulate/you on the possession/of this unique copy./Yours cordially/W. Irving Way/S:8:125.

  13. ROSSETTI, DANTE GABRIEL. The New Life of Dante. One of 100 copies on Japan vellum. 1896. No. 8 from the Mosher Library. (III)

  14. LANG, ANDREW. Ballads and Lyrics of Old France. One of 100 copies on Japan vellum. 1896. No. 19 from the Mosher Library. (IV)

  15. BURTON, R. F. The Kasidah. One of 100 copies on Japan vellum. 1896. No. 69 from the Mosher Library.

  16. DE NERVAL, GERARD. Sylvie: Souvenirs du Valois. One of 100 copies on Japan vellum. 1896. No. 80 from the Mosher Library. (VI)

  17. SYMONDS, JOHN ADDINGTON. The Sonnets of Michael Angelo Buonarroti. One of 100 copies on Japan vellum. 1897. No. 18 from the Mosher Library. (VII)

  18. LANG, ANDREW. Helen of Troy. One of 100 copies on Japan vellum. 1897. No. 80 from the Mosher Library. (VIII)

  19. SWINBURNE, ALGERNON CHARLES. Atalanta in Calydon. One of 100 copies on Japan vellum. 1897. No. 31 from the Mosher Library. (IX)


CASE 3


Quarto Series

  1. PATER, WALTER. The Renaissance One of 4 copies on pure vellum. 1902. Bound by the Club Bindery, in full brown morocco, with ribbon design, inlays of four shades of brown, one of red.

  2. ROSSETTI DANTE GABRIEL. Poems. One of 25 copies printed on Japan vellum. 1902. No. 13 signed by Mosher and from his Library. (V)

  3. PATER, WALTER. Marius The Epicurean. One of 35 copies printed on Japan vellum. 1900. No. 25 signed by Mosher and from his Library. (VII)

  4. PATER, WALTER. The Renaissance. One of 35 copies on Japan vellum. 1902. No. 11 signed by Mosher and from his Library. (IX)

  5. SWINBURNE, ALGERNON CHARLES. Laus Veneris. One of 25 copies printed on Japan vellum. 1899. No. 25 signed by Mosher and from his library. (I)

  6. SWINBURNE. Songs before Sunrise. One of 25 copies on Japan vellum. 1901. No. 25 from the Mosher Library. (IV)

  7. SWINBURNE. Poems & Ballads. One of 15 copies printed on Japan vellum. 1904. No. 4 signed by Mosher and from his Library. (II)

  8. SWINBURNE. Tristram of Lyonesse. One of 4 copies on pure vellum. 1904. Signed by Thomas B. Mosher. From Library of Henry W. Poor, with Ex Libris. Bound in full red morocco by The Club Bindery 1908, gold tooled with inserts (or inlays or onlays) in deep and light green and gray. (X)


CASE 4


Golden Text Series

  1. MEREDITH GEORGE. Love in the Valley. One of 100 copies on Japan vellum. 1910.

  2. ARNOLD, MATTHEW. Thyrsis: A Monody. One of 925 copies on Van Gelder paper. 1910.

  3. WHITTIER, JOHN GREENLEAF. Snow Bound: A Winter Idyll One of 925 copies on Van Gelder paper. 1911.

  4. EMERSON, RALPH W. Threnody and Other Lyrics. One of 925 copies on Van Gelder paper. 1911.

  5. WORDSWORTH, WILLIAM. Ode on Intimations of Immortality. One of 100 copies on Japan vellum. 1908.

    Ideal Series

  6. TYNAN, KATHARINE. A Little Book for John O'Mahony's Friends. 1909.

  7. MACLEOD, FIONA. The Distant Country. 1907.

  8. BAUDELAIRE. Poems in Prose. 1909.

  9. WICKSTEED, PHILIP. H. Our Lady's Tumbler. 1906.

  10. DEQUINCEY, THOMAS. Ann: A Memory. Published by Mosher. 1908. 16mo, full brown crushed levant morocco, thin gilt fillets, five raised bands, t.e.g., others uncut, by Sangorski & Sutcliffe. Inscribed by a noted book dealer to a noted collector: William F. Gable, a gift from George D. Smith, New York, Christmas, 1913.

    Vest Pocket Series

  11. LEE, VERNON. In Praise of Old Gardens. 1912.

  12. MACLEOD, FIONA. A Little Book of Nature Thoughts. 1908.

  13. JOHNSTON, CHARLES. From the Upanishads. 1913.

  14. FITZGERALD, EDWARD. Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám. 1899.

  15. SHELLEY, PERCY BYSSHE. A Defence of Poetry. Bound in green leather, gold tooled. 1910.

  16. LEE, VERNON. Sister Benevenuta and the Christ Child. 1911.

  17. SCHREINER, OLIVE. The Lost Joy. 1909.

  18. JEFFERIES, RICHARD. The Pageant of Summer. 1905.

  19. JEFFERIES, RICHARD. A Little Book of Nature Thoughts. 3rd Ed. 1907.

  20. MEREDTTH, GEORGE. An Idyl of First Love. 1906. (Ideal Series)

    Lyric Garland Series

  21. TYNAN, KATHARINE. A. A Little Book of XXIV Carols. One of 100 copies on Japan vellum. 1907. (XII)

  22. WILDE, OSCAR. The Ballad of Reading Gaol. One of 100 copies on Japan vellum. 1904. (IV)

  23. YEATS, W. B. The Land of Heart's Desire. 11th Ed. 1913. (I)

  24. A Little Garland of Celtic Verse. One of 100 copies on Japan vellum. 1905. (VII)

    Venetian Series

  25. HEWLETT, MAURICE. A Masque of Dead Florentines. On Japan vellum. 1911. (IV)

  26. WILDE, OSCAR. The Sphinx. Printed on Japan vellum. 1909. (V)

  27. ROSSETTI, DANTE GABRIEL. Dante at Verona. Printed on Japan vellum. 1910. (III)

  28. BROWNING, ROBERT. Italy My Italy. On vellum. 1910. (II)

  29. ROBINSON, A. MARY F. Songs from an Italian Garden. On Japan vellum. 1913. (VII)


CASE 5


Mosher Correspondence

  1. LAMB, F. M. T.L.S. 1p., Nov. 13, 1923, to Mr. William K. Doty, Annapolis, Md., telling him that Mr. Mosher "passed away August 31st." Miss Lamb was Mosher's assistant, who continued the work of the press after his death.

  2. MOSHER, THOMAS B. Series of eight letters to Miss Emilie B. Grigsby, 210 West 57th Street, New York, N. Y.

    Jan. 6, 1898 2pp, A.L.S.
    Feb. 7, 1898 3pp, A.L.S.
    Mar. 21, 1898 4pp, A.L.S.
    Apr. 26, 1900 2pp, A.L.S.
    May 12, 1898 4pp, A.L.S.
    May 26, 1900 4pp, A.L.S.
    N.d. 4pp, A.L.S.
    Jan. 1898 note on a sample of vellum.

  3. MOSHER. T. L. S. Nov. 17, 1905. To Mrs. Ramsey from the publisher saying that some of the books by Fiona Macleod are out of print but can "occasionally be picked up abroad. The other book, Darthula has never been issued to my knowledge but was simply announced."

  4. MOSHER. A.L.S., 1p., Oct. 26, 1891, on McLellan, Mosher & Co. stationery, Portland, Maine. To Messers. Roberts Bros.

  5. MOSHER. T.L.S., dated March 12, 1909, to Ruth Shepard Phelps, concerning the forthcoming publication of Arthur Upson's Sonnets and Songs in the Lyric Garland Series in 1911.

  1. MOSHER. A.L.S., 1p., Sept. 10, 1908. To Ruth Shepard Phelps, concerning death of Arthur Upson.

  1. MOSHER. T.L.S., 1p., Feb. 4, 1920 to Mr. G. W. Blodgett, Oklahoma City, Okla., mailing latest catalogue and referring to the Mosher facsimile edition of Leaves of Grass.

  2. MOSHER. T.L.S., 2pp., Sept. 26, 1919, to Mr. Gronberg, Chicago, discussing bindings of Mosher books, and the new edition of Amphora. Also discusses his handicap in signing letters.


CASE 6


    Miscellaneous Series

  1. RUSSELL, BERTRAND. A Free Man's Worship. One of 950 copies on Van Gelder hand-made paper. 1923.

  2. MORRIS, WILLIAM. Child Christopher and Goldilind The Fair. One of 50 copies on Japan vellum. 1900.

  3. STEVENSON, R. L. Father Damien. One of 50 copies on Japan vellum. 1905. No. 1 from the Mosher Library.

  4. MACLEOD, FIONA. The Immortal Hour. One of 50 copies on Japan vellum, No. 1. 1907. From the Mosher Library.

  5. LOWELL, JAMES RUSSELL. The Present Crisis. One of 950 copies on French hand-made paper. 1918.

  6. PARSONS, THOMAS WILLIAM. Circum Praecordia. One of 50 copies on Japan vellum. Sept. 1904.

  7. WILDE, OSCAR. The Poetical Works of Oscar Wilde. One of 25 copies on Japan vellum, No. 1 from the Mosher Library.

  8. WILDE, OSCAR. The Poems of Oscar Wilde. One of 50 copies on Japan vellum, No. 25 signed by Mosher and from his Library. 1903.

  9. WILDE, OSCAR. Intentions. One of 50 copies printed on Japan vellum, No. 4 signed by Mosher and from his Library 1904.

  10. MACLEOD, FIONA. Runes of Woman. One of 450 copies on Van Gelder hand-made paper. 1915.


CASE 7


    Miscellaneous Series

  1. WHITMAN, WALT. The Book of Heavenly Death. Compiled from Leaves of Grass by Horace Traubel. One of 500 copies on Van Gelder paper. 1905.

  2. YEATS, WILLIAM BUTLER. The Land of Heart's Desire. One of 500 copies on Japan vellum. 1909.

  3. LEITH, W. COMPTON. Sirenica. One of 450 copies on Van Gelder hand-made paper. 1915.

  4. Ecclesiastes, or The Preacher. One of 500 copies on Van Gelder hand-made paper. 1907.

  5. DOWSON, ERNEST. The Poems of Ernest Dowson. One of 50 copies on Japan vellum. 1902. No. 44, signed by Mosher.

  6. FITZGERALD, EDWARD. Polonius A Collection of Wise Saws and Modern Instances. One of 450 copies on Van Gelder hand-made paper. 1901.

  7. MACKAIL, J. W. The Sayings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Arranged by J. W. Mackail. One of 450 copies. 1909.

  8. ARNOLD, MATTHEW. Empedocles on Etna. One of 50 copies on Japan vellum. 1900.

  9. SPENCER, HERBERT. Passages from the Philosophy of Herbert Spencer. One of 700 copies on Van Gelder hand-made paper. 1910.

  10. BUCHANAN, ROBERT. The Story of David Gray. One of 400 copies on Van Gelder hand-made paper. 1900.


CASE 8


    Books Privately Printed for
    Mr. and Mrs. Edward A. Woods,
    Sewickley, Pennsylvania

  1. FITZGERALD, EDWARD. Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám. One of 350 copies. 1923.

  2. C1CERO. De Amicitia. Translated with notes by Andrew P. Peabody. One of 450 copies on Van Gelder paper, privately printed for Edward A. Woods, Sewickley, Penna., 1913.

  3. DICKENS, CHARLES. The Cricket on the Hearth. One of 300 copies on Van Gelder hand-made paper privately printed by The Mosher Press, Portland, Maine, for Edward A. Woods, Sewickley, Penna., October, 1921.

  4. WILDE, OSCAR. The Young King and Other Tales. One of 300 copies privately printed for Edward A. Woods, Sewickley, Penna. 1922.

  5. WICKSTEED, PHILIP H. Our Lady's Tumbler. One of 500 copies on Italian hand-made paper privately printed by The Mosher Press, Portland, Maine, for Edward A. Woods, Sewickley, Penna., November, 1917.

  6. PECK, GEORGE RECORD. The Kingdom of Light. One of 450 copies on Van Gelder hand-made paper, privately printed for Mr. and Mrs. Edward A. Woods. 1925.

  7. STEVENSON, ROBERT LOUIS. Will O The Mill. One of 25 copies on Japan Vellum for Edward A. Woods, Sewickley, Penna., November, 1915.

  8. JORDAN, DAVID STARR. The Philosophy of Hope. One of 40 copies printed on Japan vellum, privately printed for Mr. and Mrs. Edward A. Woods, Sewickley, Penna., 1926.

  9. WILDE, OSCAR. The Happy Prince and Other Tales. One of 500 copies on Italian hand-made paper privately printed for Edward A. Woods, Sewickley, Penna., November, 1919.


CASE 9


    Mosher Books on Vellum -- All Signed by Him

  1. ROSSETTI DANTE GABRIEL. The Blessed Damozel. 12mo, full limp white vellum with ties. Printed on pure vellum in black and red rules and initials and some text also in red. One of only ten copies. 1901. (Miscellaneous Series)

  2. HENLEY, W. E. In Hospital. One of 10 copies on pure vellum. 1903. Bound in full blue morocco, by the Adams Bindery. (Lyric Garland Series)

  3. FITZGERALD. The Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám. One of 10 copies on pure vellum. 1902. (Reprints of Privately Printed Books)

  4. ROSSETTI, DANTE GABRIEL. The Blessed Damozel. One of 10 copies printed on pure vellum. 1901. (Miscellaneous Series)

  5. A Little Garland of Christmas Verse. One of 10 copies printed on pure vellum, 1905. Unbound sheets. From Mosher's Library. (Lyric Garland Series VIII)

  6. RODD, RENNELL. Rose Leaf and Apple Leaf. One of 5 copies on pure vellum, No. 1. In sheets. 1906. (Miscellaneous Series)

  7. Primavera. By Four Authors. One of 4 copies printed on pure vellum. 1900. Bound in pure green vellum. (Miscellaneous Series)

  8. ANODOS. Fancy's Following. One of 4 copies printed on pure vellum. 1900. (Reprints of Privately Printed Books VII)

  9. WATSON, ROSAMUND MARRIOTT. Tares: A Book of Verses. One of 7 copies on pure vellum. No. 1. 1906. Bound in full blue morocco, with red leather inserts by Morgan, Seaford, England. (Lyric Garland Series IX)

  10. SCHWOB, MARCEL. Mimes. One of 6 copies printed on pure vellum. 1901. Bound in decorated vellum.


CASE 10


Mosher Catalogues

  1. A group of 19 catalogues issued by Mosher from 1895 through to 1914. The Catalogue for 1913 (top row) is open at a poem by 133. Robert Frost, "Reluctance." Although Frost and Mosher were friends, the publisher never included any of Frost's poems in his books. The appearance in this catalogue was the only time the poet saw print in Mosher's publications.


CASE 11


    Miscellaneous Series

  1. VIRGIL. The Eclogues. One of 50 copies on Japan vellum. 1898.

  2. VIRGIL. The Georgics. 2 vols. One of 50 copies on Japan vellum. 1899.

  3. WHITMAN, WALT. Leaves of Grass. Facsimile of the 1855 text. One of 250 copies printed on Old Stratford white wove paper, in dark green cloth, stamped to match the original edition. 1919.

  4. WHITMAN, WALT. Memories of President Lincoln. One of 300 copies on Italian hand-made paper. 1913.

  5. WHISTLER, JAMES A. MCNEILL. Ten O'Clock. One of 450 copies on Van Gelder paper. 1920.

  6. ROSSETTI, DANTE GABRIEL. Hand and Soul. 2nd ed. One of 450 copies. 1900.

  7. A. E. 0Homeward Songs by the Way. One of 925 copies on Van Gelder hand-made paper. The first book for which Bruce Rogers drew designs for an Eastern publisher. 1895.

  8. CALVERT, EDWARD. Ten Spiritual Designs. Enlarged from proofs of the originals on copper, wood and stone MDCCCXXVII - MDCCCXXXI. One of 400 copies on Van Gelder hand-made paper. 1913.

  9. BLAKE, WILLIAM. XVII Designs for Thornton's Virgil. Reproduced from the Original Woodcuts. One of 25 copies on Japan vellum, signed by Thomas B. Mosher. 1899.

  10. BURTON, SIR RICHARD F. The Kasidah. One of 125 copies on Van Gelder hand-made paper. 1905.


CASE 12


In Appreciation of Mosher

  1. Lewiston Journal, July 7, 1928. Front page, giving account of two Mosher shrines.

  2. Parke-Bernet Galleries. Catalogue of the auction of the Library of Thomas Bird Mosher. May 10, 11, 1948.

  3. Parke-Bernet Galleries. Auction of final portion of the Library of Thomas Bird Mosher. October 11, 12, 1948.

  4. MOSHER, THOMAS BIRD. The Works of Arthur Symons. One of only 5 copies printed. 1912. Privately Printed.

  5. MACLEOD, FIONA. Celtic. A Study of Spiritual History. One of 50 copies on Japan vellum. Privately printed by Thomas B. Mosher for presentation to his friends. 1901.

  6. A. E. Homeward Songs by the Way. One of 925 copies printed by T. B. Mosher, 1895. With G. W. Russell's autograph tipped in before title page. Long two-page letter from Bruce Rogers to Edward Martin Moore, Esq. C/o Reading and Collecting, 328 Plymouth Court, Chicago, Ill., concerning B.R.'s relationship with Mosher.

  7. LE GALLIENNE, RICHARD. Thomas Bird Mosher -- An Appreciation. 1914.

  8. LE GALLIENNE, RICHARD. Autograph Manuscript. Thomas B. Mosher, An Appreciation. Four closely written pages on legal size paper.

  9. STROUSE, NORMAN H. The Passionate Pirate. One of 200 copies. Bird & Bull Press, North Hills, Pennsylvania, 1964. A sympathetic account of Mosher and his press by Mr. Strouse, who is the foremost Mosher collector in America. The title is derived from the fact that Mosher pirated literary masterpieces extensively. He produced them in such attractive formats that the authors so pirated usually forgave him. The book itself is the work of a Philadelphia printer, Henry Morris, who made the paper for it and then printed it at the private press in his home.


CASE 13 (In center of Lobby)


The Bibelot

  1. The Bibelot. A Reprint of Poetry & Prose for Book Lovers, chosen in part from scarce editions and sources not generally known. The 12 numbers for 1908. Issued monthly and also cumulatively in book form, this charming little periodical was published by Mosher from 1895 through 1914. Individual numbers here shown sold for 5 cents each -- or 50 cents for a year's subscription. The price was later increased to 75 cents a year.

  2. The Bibelot. Vol. XV, 1909. No. 1 of 12 copies printed on Japan vellum.

  3. WORDSWORTH, WILLIAM. I V Sonnets. Printed by Bruce Rogers for his Friends. Xmas, 1909. Rogers inscribed this to Mosher: "To the Aldus of the XIX Century from an amateur printer, B.R." Forty years later Rogers inscribed it again -- to the present owner, Norman H. Strouse.

  4. MEREDTTH, GEORGE. A.L.S. March 3rd, 1892, to Thomas B. Mosher. "A handsome pirate is always half pardoned." Meredith had been one whose books had been pirated by Mosher.