Events & Classes > Collins Gallery > Gems of the Private Press Movement
Gems of the Private Press Movement:
Kelmscott, Ashendene, Doves, Golden Cockerel
The Wood Beyond the World
Location, time
- Collins Gallery
- 3rd Floor, Central Library
- 801 S.W. 10th Avenue
- Portland, OR
- November 13, 2008–January 4, 2009
- Monday: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
- Tuesday & Wednesday: 10 a.m.–8 p.m.
- Thursday–Saturday: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
- Sunday: noon–5 p.m.
About the exhibit
In January 1891, William Morris established the Kelmscott Press at Hammersmith, England, a suburb west of London. For the next seven years, the press produced more than 50 books, all by hand using the finest quality materials and modeled after 15th century books, which Morris highly admired. The Kelmscott Press reinvigorated book design and production at a time when standards were greatly diminished because of increased reliance on industrialization.
Following the Kelmscott Press, other private presses — especially the Ashendene Press in 1894, the Doves Press in 1900, and the Golden Cockerel Press in 1920 — were founded in Britain to carry on and transcend Morris' ideals in the book arts. Each press had unique characteristics.
The John Wilson Special Collections of Multnomah County Library is particularly rich in books and other materials from these four presses, thanks to the generosity of donors during the last century. This is the first time these beautiful works have been exhibited together in Portland. The exhibition will also include earlier books that inspired the presses, later works influenced by them, and materials borrowed from a private Portland collection.
Related event
Opening Reception
- Saturday, November 15, 2–3:30 p.m.
Please join us for comments by exhibition curator and John Wilson Special Collections Jim Carmin, and a brief talk on the Kelmscott Press by author and book collector Jack Walsdorf. Refreshments will be served.
For more information, contact Jim Carmin at 503.988.6287.