This catalogue contains 100 of the most beautiful, finely printed books produced during the twentieth century. To choose just 100 out of an immense number of books, the selection was limited to books printed in England and America containing the Roman alphabet. Books as objects and more sculptural books are not included in the publication. The introduction is divided into two parts including: The Resurgence of Fine Printing: Tradition and Change, 1900-1949, and The Advance of Technology and the Continuity of Tradition: Fine Printing 1949-1999. The book contains 100 full-page examples of title-pages, facsimiles, and illustrations, as well as a list of illustrations, authors and titles, designers and presses, and a bibliography. 144 pages. paperback. 9 x 12 inches.

A Century for the Century: Fine Printed Books 1900–1999

Arts & Photography

Kelly, Jerry

Hutner, Martin

Graphic Design

The Grolier Club

Designed by Jerry Kelly and printed in an edition of 1000 copies.

Whistleriana: Works by and About James Mcneill Whistler from the Collection of Martin Hutner

Crafts, Hobbies & Home

Antiques & Collectibles

Grolier Club

Any serious book collector (and the most serious belong to The Grolier Club, that pre-eminent New York shrine) harbors a latent penchant for lists. These lists are usually generated in neat doses of one hundred titles. Here then (at least in the opinions of Messrs. Hutner and Kelly) are the hundred greatest printed books of the twentieth century. Given another pair of editors, you d probably be offered a different list, but this one serves and serves well, for it concentrates not only on the recognized chestnuts, but also lesser-known, and often exceedingly récherché volumes that have left their mark. It is noteworthy that only two books in the survey were printed by offset; the rest are all letterpress. And although America is strongly represented, there are also selections from Italy, France, Germany, the Netherlands, England, Wales and Switzerland. Every book is illustrated in fine line duotone, many in color, and best of all, the captions that accompanied the original Grolier exhibit have been transcribed intact. In their two prefatory essays, Hutner has provided a convincing defense of his choices (1900 1948), and Kelly, a spirited apologia for his (1949 1999). Joe Blumenthal ended his survey of fine printing in America with the observation that the art of the book, one of the slender graces of civilization, works its charm on each new generation. This survey, while admittedly neither comprehensive nor definitive, provides an excellent overview of fine printing over the past hundred years. Despite Morison s contention that typography is the most conservative of all the arts, the form of the book continues to mutate, evolve, and advance. If we are to overcome the complexities of a digital age, we would do well to appreciate, if not embrace, that heritage.

A Century for the Century: Fine Printed Books from 1900 to 1999

Reference

David R. Godine, Publisher

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