A History of the Eragny Press, 1894-1914
by: Marcella D. Genz

Hardcover. New Castle DE, Oak Knoll, 1st, 2004, Hardcover in a bright dust jacket. A History of the Eragny Press, 1894-1914, is a full and exceptionally well-researched account of the Press. It begins with a brief survey of Lucien Pissarro's early career in France in order to establish the influences and motivations for his book designs and proceeds to examine Lucien's association with Charles Ricketts, the establishment of the Eragny Press, and the Press' relationship to the publishers Hacon & Ricketts. Eragny was not a commercial publisher, yet profits was an important motivation for the Pissarros. Included here is the first major account for a private press of the costs of production, profits, and marketing and distribution practices. Eragny Press books were promoted and sold in England, the Continent, and the United States. Two of the Eragny Press books were the results of commissions from French bibliophile clubs. This history of the Eragny Press includes a discussion of the influences and artistic theories that are the basis for the Pissarros' books and provides a critical reassessment of their significance within the history of the English Arts and Crafts Private Press movement. About half the book is devoted to an exhaustive and detailed bibliography of all the Eragny Press publications, with critical commentary on each. Accompanying the text and the descriptive bibliography are more than seventy-five reproductions of rare Eragny wood engravings ( by Lucien Pissarro, T. Sturge Moore, and others), title pages, borders and decorated initials, binding papers, and book covers. A History of the Eragny Press, 1894-1914, is an important book for anyone interested in the history of printing, the Arts and Crafts movement, Impressionism, private presses, the art of wood engraving, and illustrated and fine books.