The Making of the Book of Common Prayer of 1928

Somers, NY: Chiswick Book Shop, 1990. Hardcover. Fine. Hardcover. One of 285 copies. A fascinating account of the history of this masterpiece from the Merrymount Press. It is accompanied by an original leaf printed on vellum at the Press. Although the book was underwritten by J.P. Morgan, the actually work fell more and more to Belle da Costa Greene, librarian of the Pierpont Morgan library. Hutner writes that "a wealth of material in the Morgan and Huntington libraries demonstrates the extraordinary amount of planning, alteration, and technical problems involved became a herculean undertaking." Hutner further noted in a postscript that the Book of Common Prayer was to be revised again in 1979, with the commission given to the Arion Press in 1982. However, the publication was cancelled by the Episcopalian Church in 1982 as they had failed to obtain the necessary funds, thus never having to stand in comparison to the Merrymount Press edition. Bound in gray textured cloth with a red title label to spine. Printed in Monotype Erhardt and Janson type. Unobtrusive ownership label affixed to front pastedown. Housed in a gray paper covered slipcase with gray cloth top and bottom edges. The book is in fine condition with the slipcase having light scrapes to its spine. Measures 10 x 14 inches. 75 pages. BOB/100224. (Inventory #: 37510)