In the tenth letterpress miniature book, Brian Alderson writes about 680 blocks discovered 11 years ago in Devon. They had stayed together for over 250 years, many first being printed by John Newbery in St Paul’s Churchyard, around 1750, in the first illustrated children’s books.

Three other printers, Thomas Carnan, Samual Jewkes & Philip Norbury owned and augmented them. There are 10 prints made from the original blocks and the text is set in 8pt Van Dijck; it runs to 60 pages, bound in a replica Dutch gilt paper. It’s a really lovely book.

There are 175 standard copies (150 for sale) price £92. Please see the first three images on this page, which you can click to enlarge.

There are also 75 specials (65 for sale), as shown in the fourth and fifth images on this page (again, click to enlarge). In these specials, the miniature described above is joined by a double-sided accordion-fold book of The House that Jack Built, following the original words (and the long s), illustrated by nine of the original ten blocks used by John Newbery in the first ever edition, c. 1750. These HTJB copies have been bound at the Press and are housed in a special box made by Stephen Byrne; the price is £355.

Both are available now from the Fleece Press.

Please note that if ordered with our other new book, Spitsticks & Multiples, the price reduces to £86 for the standard copies and £335 for the special copies.

To order, please contact me by phone on 01226 792200 or by email at simon@fleecepress.com.