The Lady of Shalott

[Will Ransom] Tennyson, Alfred

Published by The Handcraft Shop, Snohomish, WA, 1901

Extremely fine and early work from Will Ransom (1878-1955) who became known as the foremost bibliographer of fine and private press books, as well as being a typeface and graphic designer himself. Ransom grew up in Snohomish, Washington before moving to Chicago to attend the Frank Holme School of Illustration. At the age of 23, he created and issued this book, the first of a small number of titles he produced over the years under various imprints. Lady of Shallott was followed in 1902 by Oscar Wilde's Ave Imperatrix! also under the Handcraft Shop Imprint. In his landmark Private Press bibliography, published in 1929, Ransom describes his first efforts quite modestly, as a sort of add-on to his introduction: "One other private press of the 1900s, an affair of passionate dreams and sorry achievement, rounds out the tale. In 1901 and 1902 two books bore the imprint of The Handcraft Shop, a name without a local habitation save in the town newspaper office in Snohomish, Washington where an ardent youth spent evenings, sometimes long ones, in pursuit of insistent but intangible vision." A superb and elegant press piece from Ransom, certainly in the Arts-and-Crafts style of the time but with its own kind of charm. A lovely copy of an important fine press rarity. OCLC cites 4 holdings. . 5x7" [27]pp. Printed in red and black on fine Strathmore paper, title page and elaborate initials all hand colored. Signed by Ransom at the colophon. Bound in publisher's "ooze suede" with silk cover labels. Damage and staining to fragile labels, but suede in very nice shape and clean internally Limited edition, number 65 of 100 signed copies. Seller Inventory # 9915

Bibliographic Details

Title: The Lady of Shalott
Publisher: The Handcraft Shop, Snohomish, WA
Publication Date: 1901
Signed: Signed