Beschreibung:

Lot of 7 of the 8 books printed by the Stanton Press, Wembley Hill, Middlesex, two signed by Robert Stanton Lambert. Returning home after service in WWI, Richard Lambert found it difficult to locate full-time employment. He took a part-time position at Sheffield University teaching economics and history, but had his summers free. With a wife and two children to support, he decided to set up a private press at his home in Wembley Hill, Middlesex. His interest in hand-printed books stemmed from his years at Oxford before the war. However, he did not have the resources to begin a private press. Most small presses were begun by men of means who could hire designers, printers, binders. Lambert decided he had the composition skills needed, and his wife had design skills, as, also did his sister Agnes. So he purchased a used press, a small quantity of Venetian Old Style font and some quality paper and taught himself how to operate the press, read printing manuals, etc. Elinor got to work on the woodcuts. Lambert had made a hobby for years translating medieval Latin verses into English, and thus had a ready candidate for the first volume off of what he decided to call the Stanton Press – The Game of Chess. It also lent itself well to illustration. It was simply bound and sold by a friend at his Charing Cross bookshop, as well as through leaflets and contacts with collectors of these private press volumes sent by Lambert, himself. For the next four years he worked at Yorkshire teaching, spending summers printing. Then, in 1924, he got a full-time position at the University of London, and no longer had much time to print. Together, the press put out eight volumes, seven of which are offered here. The one lacking is Ode to Sleep (1923). Fifty years later, Lambert reflected on his small press in the Public Library Journal, also included. Vida, Mark Jerome. The Game of Chess. 1921. Latin text facing Lambert’s English translation. Introduction by R.C. Lambert. Wood engravings by Elinor Lambert: Frontispiece port., title page; five full-page illus., port. medallion. 69pp. 8.25 x 10.5 in. on machine-made wove paper. Quarter canvas over blue-grey paper boards. This copy No. 225 of 250, signed by Richard Stanton Lambert on limitation page. Davies, Sir John. Orchestra, or a Poeme of Dauncing. 1922. Wood engravings by Elinor Lambert: title page, five illus., nine initials, vignettes, etc. 81pp. 7.6 x 10.1 in. Printed on laid handmade paper. Quarter canvas over blue-grey paper boards. No. 159 of 175 copies, signed by Lambert on limitation page. Roswitha, the Nun of Gandersheim. Abraham. 1922. Translated from the Latin by R.S. Lambert. Four line drawing illustrations by Agnes Lambert. 46pp. 5.75 x 9.1 in. Alton Mill handmade paper. Quarter canvas over blue-grey paper boards. No. 7 of 100 copies. Still in glassine jacket. Roswitha, the Nun of Gandersheim. Callimachus. 1923. Translated from the Latin by R.S. Lambert. Five line drawing illustrations by Agnes Lambert. 43pp. 5.75 x 9.1 in. Alton Mill handmade paper. Quarter canvas over blue-grey paper boards. No. 38 of 75 copies. Still in tissue jacket. The History of Susanna Taken out of the Apocrypha. 1923. Title page borders and two illustrations designed by Agnes Lambert and engraved on wood by Elinor Lambert. 26pp. 4.25 x 5.5 in. Alton Mill handmade paper, French patterned paper boards. Approx. 1 x 1 in. label on front with title. One of 100 copies printed (not numbered). This copy not cut at top of pages. Strabo, Walafrid. Hortulus, or the Little Garden. 1924. Translated from the Latin into English verse by R.S. Lambert. Title page and 34 vignettes engraved on wood by Elinor Lambert. 41pp. 7.6 x 10.1 in. Printed in black and red on handmade paper. Quarter red cloth over French patterned paper boards. One of 125 copies (not numbered). Binyon, Laurence. The Sirens: an Ode. 1924. Double title page border engraved by Elinor Lambert. 40pp. 7.6 x 12.25 in. Kelmscott handmade paper. Quarter brown cloth o