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Golden Cockerel PressA major English private press operating between 1920 and 1961. At first, the press published new works with limited appeal, but soon found the formula for which it became famous - beautiful handmade limited editions of classic works produced to the very highest of standards. The type, set by hand, often used specially designed typefaces - notably that designed by Eric Gill especially for the press. A major feature of Golden Cockerel books were the original illustrations, usually woodcuts, contributed by, among others, Eric Gill, Robert Gibbings, John Buckland-Wright, Blair Hughes-Stanton, Agnes Miller Parker, David Jones and Eric Ravilious. The press was credited with having revived the British tradition of woodcarving. Deluxe Editions The size of a run would vary according to expectations, but was normally between 250 and 750. Though both the paper and the bindings were handmade even on the Standard Edition, there was often also a smaller Deluxe Edition. The difference was usually that the bindings, instead of being 1/4 leather, were executed in full leather by the famous binder Sangorski & Sutcliffe and would consist of only 25-100 copies. Occasionally, the press would also print a "Super Deluxe" edition consisting of only 5 or 10 copies on full vellum. Copies of the Deluxe Edition were sold at the time for up to five times the price of the Standard Edition, which was already well out of reach of ordinary people. Canterbury Tales One of the most sought-after of the Golden Cockerel books is the four-volume Canterbury Tales produced by Eric Gill and issued in 1931. Lavishly illustrated throughout and with decorative borders on almost every page, it took two and a half years to produce. Four hundred and eighty-five copies were printed on paper, and a further fifteen on vellum. The former can be found selling for around $US6,000, or$US10,000 if in perfect condition, but the latter fetch up to $US80,000, as they rarely come onto the market.
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