It’s Fine Press Friday!
This week we present Birds, Beasts, and Flowers poems by D. H. Lawrence with wood-engravings by Blair Hughes-Stanton and published by the Cresset Press in London in 1930. The book was printed at the Shenval Press in an edition of 500 copies on mould-made paper, and 30 copies printed on Batchelor’s handmade paper. It is quarter bound in vellum with marbled boards.
David Herbert Lawrence (1885–1930) was a playwright, poet, author, and journalist. His work explores subjects such as the negative effects of modern industrialized society, sexuality, emotional health, and the complexity of human psychology. D.H. Lawrence is best known for his controversial novel Lady Chatterley's Lover which was first published in 1928, and banned for its sexually explicit content in the United Kingdom until 1960, and in the United States until 1959. Birds, Beasts, and Flowers is a collection of poetry about the natural world, which often invoke the inner life of plants and animals.
Blair Hughes-Stanton (1902-1981) was an English wood engraver whose work was commissioned by many private presses during the first half of the twentieth century. His first book illustrations were made for T. E. Lawrence’s The Seven Pillars of Wisdom published by a private press in 1926. From 1930-1933 he co-directed the Gregynog Press with his first wife, wood-engraver and sculptor Gertrude Hermes. Gregynog was owned by sisters Margaret and Gwendoline Davies. In 1934, Blair Hughes-Stanton set up his own Gemini Press with his second wife, poet Ida Graves. Hughes-Stanton illustrated two books of poetry by D. H. Lawrence, who he considered a friend, and mentor: Birds, Beast, and Flowers and The Revelation of St. John the Divine.
This book is another generous donation from our friend, Jerry Buff.
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–Sarah, Special Collections Graduate Intern