Venus and Adonis [Harrison of Paris / Monroe Wheeler Press] [First Book of the Press]. Dieser Artikel ist nicht verfügbar.Venus and Adonis [Harrison of Paris / Monroe Wheeler Press] [First Book of the Press]

THE FIRST BOOK OF MONROE WHEELER'S LEGENDARY PARIS PRESS - WHERE SHAKESPEARE, ART DECO TYPOGRAPHY, AND THE MODERN FINE PRESS MOVEMENT CONVERGED. The inaugural publication of Monroe Wheeler's legendary press, establishing the aesthetic vocabulary later refined through the Harrison of Paris editions. Elegant, restrained, and perfectly proportioned, this 1930 edition bridges Renaissance sensuality and Art Deco modernism at the very dawn of Wheeler's career in fine-press book design. KEY FEATURES: +++ Visuals: Architectural typographic layout featuring wide margins on Arches vellum paper. +++ Binding: Quarter-bound with a black paper spine over silver-gilted paper boards; boards stamped with Wheeler's distinctive monogram pattern; top edge gilt. +++ Design: A masterwork of early 20th-century 'balanced' typography, uniting classical verse with the silver-and-black harmony of the Jazz Age. +++ Content: Shakespeare's 1593 narrative poem of desire and mortality, presented as the debut volume of the press. +++ Imprint: Paris: Monroe Wheeler [Printed by Desclée, De Brouwer et Cie], 1930. First Edition Thus. +++ Specs: Small Folio (10.5 inches tall) / 71 pages. CONDITION: Near Fine. +++ The Book: The bindings are tight and square with the silver paper boards remaining remarkably bright. The text is pristine and clean with only minimal evidence of handling. +++ The Slipcase: Housed in the original black slipcase with the matching silver paper label; the case remains fresh, sound, and structurally superior. A well-preserved, archive-quality example. SCHOLARLY FEATURES +++ Publishing History: This volume holds primary importance as the first book issued under Monroe Wheeler's imprint before his formal partnership with Barbara Harrison Wescott. It represents the 'proof of concept' for what would become Harrison of Paris, one of the most influential expatriate presses of the 1930s. +++ Contextual Analysis: Wheeler, who later became a Director at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), applied a curatorial rigor to this production. The choice of Venus and Adonis-Shakespeare's first published work-as Wheeler's own first publication creates a deliberate historical parallel. +++ Influence: The silver-and-black monogram motif on the boards became a signature of Wheeler's early design period, signaling the transition from the ornate Arts and Crafts style to a cleaner, modernist 'machine-age' luxury. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE -- This volume marks an important beginning in twentieth-century private press publishing. Before Monroe Wheeler established Harrison of Paris with Barbara Harrison Wescott, he published this edition of Venus and Adonis in 1930. It was his first book and established the approach to design and production that would distinguish the Harrison of Paris imprint over the next four years. Wheeler, who later became an important figure at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), approached bookmaking as an art in itself. Rather than following the elaborate decoration associated with earlier private presses such as Kelmscott, he favored clean typography, careful page design, and the restrained elegance of Art Deco. The result was a modern interpretation of the fine press book, combining traditional craftsmanship with contemporary design. For collectors of private press books, modern typography, and American expatriate publishing in Paris, Venus and Adonis is especially significant. It is the starting point for Wheeler's publishing career and an early example of the design principles that would make Harrison of Paris an important name in twentieth-century bookmaking. SUBJECTS: William Shakespeare, Monroe Wheeler Press, Harrison of Paris, Art Deco Design, Fine Press Movement, Paris Expatriates, English Renaissance Poetry, Modernist Typography, Limited Edition, Fine Press, Private Press, Poetry. BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCE: Ransom, Private Presses, p. 312; Harrison of Paris Checklist #1.…