Updates – 2023
The Mosher website has been updated numerous times from January to mid July, including:
- All plug-ins have bee updated.
- Contact info. has been updated.
- SEO improvements made.
- Added article “New Acquisitions—Assoc. copies, Vellum Imprints & Cosway Binding”.
- Several pages have been newly edited.
- Census for vellum imprint holdings was updated.
- WordPress version was updated.
- Updated site to PHP 8.0
- Updated all themes.
- Commissioned a complete performance report.
- Optimized images, and optimized site for best performance.
- Eliminated inactive themes and plug-ins.
Updates – 2022
March 7, 2022
Entry added to Research and Publications by Philip, R. Bishop:
Bishop, Philip R. A picture laden essay on an important sixth Broca binding to enter the Bishop Collection of Thomas Bird Mosher and The Mosher Books, entitled “ The Weight of the Wait The Backstory to a Broca Binding’s Acquisition.” This also includes more information on the owner F. T. Hubbard of Harvard and the Charles E. Lauriat Co. of Boston.
February 2, 2022
Entry added to Research and Publications by Philip R. Bishop:
Bishop, Philip R. Three essays are here presented: (1) John Quinn’s copy of The Bibelot, with an appendix of advertisers across all 20 volumes of The Bibelot, (2) The Story of Amis & Amile, Illuminated by Marie Hoke, and (3) Other Acquisitions and Updates. These write-ups present the latest to enter The Bishop Collection of Thomas Bird Mosher and The Mosher Books.
Updates – 2021
August 4, 2021
Entry added to Research and Publications by Philip R. Bishop:
Bishop, Philip R. The Personal Side of a Collector’s Acquisitions—The H. W. Poor / C. F. Bishop Copy #2 on Vellum of FATHER DAMIEN from the Club Bindery. This is the newest of Mosher’s vellum printed books to enter the Bishop Collection, bringing the total up to 40 vellum Mosher books. In this case it’s in a magnificent binding from the Club Bindery. Presented is the story behind the acquisition. Also included is a gift of Mark Samuels Lasner to the collection.
Two entries added to Books Printed on Roman Vellum in the Bishop Collection:
- Anodos {Miss Elizabeth Coleridge]. FANCY’S FOLLOWING, 1900. Copy No. 3 of 4 printed on American vellum. Bound in flexible vellum with ties. Vellum proof of spine and cover decorations bound at the rear. The Gertrude Cowdin copy.
- Stevenson, Robert Louis. FATHER DAMIEN—An Open Letter to the Reverend Doctor Hyde of Honolulu from Robert Louis Stevenson, 1905. Copy No. 2 of 4 printed on Roman vellum. The Henry William Poor – Cortlandt Field Bishop copy. Bound by the Club Bindery in 1906 in full red crushed morocco with extra gilt tooling, inlaid ornaments, and red morocco doublures. Signed by Mosher.
Updated the Vellum Census PDF (Vellum Printed Books in Major Mosher Collections).
Updated the number of books printed on real vellum from 38 to 40.
June 27, 2021
Entry added to Research and Publications by Philip R. Bishop:
Bishop, Philip R. “A. A. Turbayne’s Designed Bindings Executed by Lucy Gilchrist Wrightson.” The newest binding to enter the Bishop Collection is on a Mosher’s edition of In Praise of Omar. The binding’s background was thoroughly researched leading to a very interesting connection to A. A. Turbayne which is now firmly established. The binding is indeed designed by A. A. Turbayne, the Boston born, Canadian educated, and designer whose professional life was established in England. It was bound by Lucy Gilchrist Wrightson for Turbayne, and the discovery is yet another example of Turbayne’s evolving design style around 1905. It is hoped this essay may lead another researcher to do a fuller treatment on Turbayne as designer. It is also hoped that Wrightson will also receive more attention as an accomplished binder.
May 8, 2021
Entry added to Research and Publications by Philip R. Bishop:
Bishop, Philip R. “A Unique Rockwell Kent Designed Binding, and the Rockwell Kent Review Article It Prompted.” This unique binding design Rockwell Kent used on the text-block of Thomas Bird Mosher’s edition of The Romance of Tristan and Iseult(Mosher, 1922) is here presented along with the entire article as it just appears in the Rockwell Kent Review. Kent’s own title-page was inserted in place of Thomas Bird Mosher’s, and the whole was bound by Donnelley of Chicago to Kent’s specifications. The editor of the Rockwell Kent Review notes, “…Kent designed the special binding for his wife’s personal copy of Tristran and Iseult, a simple graphic that would be repurposed to greater glory and mystery, as resolved here by Phil Bishop.”—p. [1]
Updates – 2020
August 27, 2020
Entry added to Research and Publications by Philip R. Bishop:
Bishop, Philip R. “LEAPS & BOUNDS: New Acquisitions after May 2020” updates the material which has entered the Mosher Collection since the end of May. Included are (1) a number of books from Mosher’s library, some of which are significant to the Mosher bibliography, (2) a Mosher association surrounding a three-volume set of The Idylls and Epigrams of Theocritus…, (3) two vellum printings, one being the William F. Gable copy of MEMORIES OF PRESIDENT LINCOLN with a lovely full-page inscription by T. B. Mosher, (4) an Arts & Crafts binding by Grace Parrish of St. Louis, and (5) other sundries including an announcement of an upcoming article in the Rockwell Kent Review. A new comparative census of vellum printings of the Mosher Books is also now newly provided.
Three entries added to Books Printed on Roman Vellum in the Bishop Collection:
- Symonds, John Addington. FRAGILIA LABILIA, 1902. Copy No. 3 of 5 printed on Roman vellum, signed by the publisher. Bound in decorated suede calf, doublures of brown morocco and elaborate gilt lotus designs. the Gertrude Cowdin copy.
- Tynan, Katherine. A LITTLE BOOK OF XXIV CAROLS, 1907. Copy #1 of 5 printed on Roman vellum, signed by Mosher. In sheet and slipcase.
- Whitman, Walt. MEMORIES OF PRESIDENT LINCOLN, 1912. Large quarto, copy No. 3 of 10 signed by Mosher, printed on heavy gauge Roman vellum and bound in classic vellum with silk ties. The William F. Gable copy with Mosher’s full page inscription to Gable on December 20, 1912: “My dear Gable, I feel much flattered that you should decide upon owning a copy of the greatest poem by the greatest poet upon the greatest American that ever lived. To have my name associated with theirs, as publisher only, is to my mind the most covetable thing I have done, or may ever hope to do in the years, few or many, remaining to me. Ever your friend, Thomas Bird Mosher.” Frontispiece photo-portrait of Lincoln on vellum. Mosher himself described it as a choice book “that princes may complete for but only Huntingtons can buy.”–Mosher to W. Irving Way, July 15, 1914.
Update counts on The Bishop Collection page:
- Increase books printed on real vellum from 34 to 38.
- Increase full and three quarter leather bindings exhibiting some of the finest work of English and American binders from 360 to 435.
June 8, 2020
Entry added to Research and Publications by Philip R. Bishop:
Bishop, Philip R. “New Acquisitions to the Bishop Collection of Thomas Bird Mosher and the Mosher Press” updates the material which has entered the Mosher Collection since September 2019. Included is a write-up on a special signed and inscribed copy of Deirdrê and the Sons of Usna by some of the attendees at A KELTIC EVENING in Manhattan, 1906; numerous special Mosher Press books; and three books from Mosher’s library, including one which is the original source text for his publication, The Dead Leman. The remainder of the article canvasses the newly acquired fine bindings on Mosher publications which have been added to the collection’s over 400 other bindings. Addendum: Yet another has entered the fold, this being a Morrell binding it took 27 years to acquire.
Updates – 2019
September 15, 2019
Entry added to Research and Publications by Philip R. Bishop:
Bishop, Philip R. “Dating Two Bindings by Master Binder, Leonard Mounteney, on Mosher Press Vellum Books” which reveals an outstanding provenance of the Bishop Collection copy of The Germ and likewise the San Francisco Public Library copy of Marius the Epicurean. Includes the process of determining the approximate date of these two fine Leonard Mounteney bindings. The second article is “A Panoply of Acquisitions and Other Updates” with interesting detailed information on new books from Mosher’s library, some fine bindings newly acquired, the long path to acquiring a vellum printing of John Symonds’s Fragilia Labilia, and three association books with one being an interesting copy of a Mosher edition inscribed by Hilaire Belloc and another being a very charming inscription by Mosher to Horace Traubel. Lastly, several gifts to the collection are reported in detail.
February 3, 2019
Entries added to Research and Publications by Philip R. Bishop:
- Bishop, Philip R. “Summary of Acquisitions to the Mosher Collection 2018 through January 2019” details 30 items (or groups of items) newly entered into the collection, and “Léon Maillard’s ‘La Flore Ornamentale’ Masterpiece / Exhibition Binding on one of four vellum copies of D. G. Rossetti’s Poems (Mosher, 1902)” which presents the binding itself and the acquisition process.
Entries added to Books Printed on Roman Vellum in the Bishop Collection:
- Rossetti, Dante Gabriel. POEMS, 1902. Copy No. 2 of 4. Bound by Léon Maillard of the Club Bindery. The William Henry Poor copy.
- Symons, Arthur. LYRICS, 1903. Copy No. 3 of 10 printed on Roman vellum and bound by Eleanore I. Swerigen.
Updates – 2018
October 14, 2018
Entries added to Publications by Philip R. Bishop:
- Bishop, Philip R. “Richard Jefferies launches an American Collector’s Passion” in The Richard Jefferies Society Journal—Richard Jefferies: The View from Abroad edited by Peter Robins and Jean Saunders, No. 33. Norfolk, England, [June] 2018, pp. 129-135. Mosher is also mentioned on pp. 7, 68, 139-143. The electronic online PDF version of the Journal is presently available. [Updated to include PDF link.]
February 25, 2018
Entries added to Publications by Philip R. Bishop:
- Bishop, Philip R. “Richard Jefferies launches an American Collector’s Passion” in The Richard Jefferies Society Journal—Richard Jefferies: The View from Abroad edited by Peter Robins and Jean Saunders, No. 33. Norfolk, England, [June] 2018, pp. 129-135. Mosher is also mentioned on pp. 7, 68, 139-143. A link to the electronic on-line version of the Journal will be forthcoming in June.
- Bishop, Philip R. “Acquisitions to the Mosher Press Collection” updates the items acquired for the Mosher Collection since July 2016, including books from Mosher’s library, Mosher letters added to the collection, some unusual miscellaneous items acquired, report on an article recently published, other assistance to scholars, the addition of another Mosher book printed on vellum, Mosher publications in fine bindings newly acquired, and the recent acquisition of two Mitchell Kennerley letters (including a copy of a rare privately printed book for Belle da Costa Greene of the Morgan Library). February 25, 2018
- [Bishop, Philip R., subject] Sebastian, Pradeep. “Philip R. Bishop: foremost Mosher scholar and collector” in the “Books” column for The Hindu. Chennai (Madras), India, December 3, 2016. He also wrote a review of Rebecca Rego Barry’s book Rare Books Uncovered—True Stories of Fantastic Finds in Unlikely Places (2015) in which he selected Bishop’s specially bound vellum copy of The Germ as his “personal favourite” story in the book. That Dec. 5, 2015 review can be seen here. Pradeep Sebastian is a bibliophile, columnist, critic, and author of The Groaning Shelf and Other Instances of Book Love (2010) and most recently The Book Hunters of Katpadi: A Bibliomystery (2017).
Entry added to Books Printed on Roman Vellum in the Bishop Collection:
- Villon. BALLADS DONE INTO ENGLISH FROM THE FRENCH OF FRANCOIS VILLON, 1904. Translations by D. G. Rossetti, A. C. Swinburne and John Payne. Copy No. 3 of 10. Bound by Stern & Bess in full burnt-orange crushed morocco with gilt rules on board edges, gilt across raised bands and around all compartments.
Updates – 2016
July 13, 2016
- Updated information about books and other materials contained in The Bishop Collection.
July 6, 2016
- Entry added to Mosher Press Exhibitions: Two exhibitions in the first half of 2016 presented books from the Mosher Press, one as part of the Penn Libraries exhibition of color in private and fine press books in their “Across the Spectrum” exhibit from February to May, and the other being the “New Members Collect” Exhibition at the Grolier Club, June through July. Both are covered here.
- Entry added to Publications by Philip R. Bishop: Bishop, Philip R. Two essays: “A Couple Exhibitions Continue to keep Mosher in the Public Eye” and “Mosher’s ‘Old World’ Kasidah on Edith J. Morley’s Bookshelves,” July 5, 2016.
June 20, 2016
- Entry added to Publications by Philip R. Bishop: (Bishop, Philip R., about website) Barry, Rebecca Rego. “A Revamped Website for Mosher Press Collectors,” FineBooks & Collections blog (for FineBooks & Collections magazine), June 20, 2016.
May 28, 2016
- Added to the Fine Bindings section: A selection of bindings by Zahn & Schwartz in The Bishop Collection.
- Entry added to Publications by Philip R. Bishop: (Bishop, Philip R., subject) Barry, Rebecca Rego. “Leather-Bound Beauty in a Cowboy Outpost” in Rare Books Uncovered—True Stories of Fantastic Finds in Unlikely Places. Foreword by Nicholas A. Basbanes. Minneapolis, MN: Voyageur Press, [December] 2015, pp. 44-48. This exciting books-on-books volume is filled with 52 tales of remarkable discoveries from the world of book collecting including those by book dealers, collectors, institutional professionals, and family members who had no idea what lurked in their attic. Bishop’s story, as recounted by Rebecca Barry, is but one of those entertaining and inspiring chapters.
- New website launched with an updated design, content reorganization, and many new images added throughout.
May 15, 2016
- Three essays added to Publications by Philip R. Bishop: From Florence Foote, to the Misses Kendall, to Peter Verberg: Some Bindings of Note; Other Additions to the Mosher Collection, The Delaware Bibliophiles’ Endpapers, March 2016, pp. 16–22, and 34-35; and not included in Endpapers, but published here as well: “Miss Wilcox’s Book Emporium.“
- Updates to links in Major Research Collections, Significant Collections, and Sites of Related Interest.
- Major website redesign in process.
Updates – 2015
September 8, 2015
Included are four new essays for the fall issue of Endpapers, including an essay on a Mosher inscription to famed book collector William F. Gable; a training binding by the Long Island suffragist Rosalie Gardner Jones; the acquisition of numerous very limited Japan vellum Mosher books; a 1917 binding signed M-E-T on Francis Thompson’s Shelley: An Essay (Mosher, 1912); a newly acquired Japan vellum copy of Fragilia Labilia in binding once owned by the American minister to China—J. V. A. MacMurray; a copy of Mosher’s 1926 catalogue inscribed by John L. Foley to Dean Archibald Lewis Boulton of Columbia University; a strange copy of The Lotus with Mosher’s ad; acquisition of the Henry William Poor copy of Swinburne’s Poems & Ballads (Mosher, 1904) with a letter from Mosher to H. W. Poor; and signed and inscribed copies of Robert Bruce Stewart’s Fair Play’s a Jewel (2015) which uses Mosher as a pivotal character. The essays also commemorate the 25th anniversary of the plaque honoring Mosher at 45 Exchange St. in Portland, Maine, and give a tribute to Gordon Peiffer as past editor of Endpapers. An account of the acquisition of a Mosher book from Charles Frederick Eaton’s ‘The Arts & Crafts’ Shop in Santa Barbara, California (calligraphy by Robert Wilson Hyde) is included. Finally thirteen more books with Mosher’s bookplate are recorded as being added to the Bishop Collection.
April 12, 2015
American Bungalow magazine article
February 7, 2015
Including five essays for the spring issue of Endpapers: a brief essay on signed and inscribed copies of Mosher’s edition of Yeats’s The Land of Heart’s Desire; an essay on some spinoffs of the Mosher Collection including the Mosher Press website; additional research on an Ellen Gates Starr binding; an essay on a newly acquire Hans Asper binding on an ‘Old World Edition’ of Mosher’s Rubaiyat; and lastly, a listing of all the new additions to the Mosher Collection since the fall issue of Endpapers.
Updates – 2014
August 11, 2014
Including a lengthy essay for the fall issue of the Delaware Bibliophiles’ Endpapers, a new entry in the book printed on vellum in the Bishop Collecton, and some general housekeeping.
June 16, 2014
Including a guest appearance on the ‘Charles Ricketts and Charles Shannon’ blog site and some added new books acquired from Mosher’s personal library, including the Eragny Press Historie de Peau d’Ane (London, 1902.) by Perrault from which the cover design was used for two of Mosher’s own publications.
February 6, 2014
Including the Bishop article “My dear Miss Brachvogel…” in Yeats Annual and several books newly added to the Books from Mosher’s Library portion of the Bishop Collection of Thomas Bird Mosher and the Mosher Press.