A.H. Mackmurdo, Herbert P. Horne and Selwyn Image (edited, i...

Hammer

£420

A.H. Mackmurdo, Herbert P. Horne and Selwyn Image (edited, illustrated): 'The Century Guild Hobby Horse', London, Kegan Paul & Chiswick Press, 1884-1893, 20 assorted issues (of 28), comprising the original suppressed first issue No.1 (April 1884), woodcut decorative title by Selwyn Image, frontispiece, woodcut decorations and initials by Mackmurdo and Horne, 104,[1]pp; January 1886, issue No.1 (the periodical began to be issued once more in 1886 with a further first issue.), 39,[1]pp, lacks frontis by Arthur Burgess, but with a duplicate copy of the same issue with the frontis present, but this with top wrap detached with large part loss; No.2, April 1886, frontis by Ford Madox Brown; No.3, July 1886, frontis by William Strang; No.5, January 1887, frontis by G.F. Watts + 2 full page plates; No.6, April 1887, frontis by Frederic Shields, 3 full page woodcut plates after Arthur Burgess; No.8, October 1887, frontis by Selwyn Image + 1 full page plate; No.9, January 1888, frontis + 2 full page plates; No.10, April 1888, frontis + 2 plates + 3 leaves music; No.12, October 1888, frontis + full page plate by Frederick Sandys; No.13, January 1889, frontis + full page plate by C. W. Whall; No.14, April 1889, frontis after D.G. Rossetti, lacks 'Sylvarum' illustration to face p.57; No.15, July 1889, frontis after Edward Burne-Jones + 1 full page plate, top wrap torn but complete, lacking lower portion of lower wrap; No.17, January 1890, frontis by Sir Frederick Leighton + 1 full page plate; No.18, April 1890, frontis after Hans Holbein + 1 leaf facsimile letters; No.22, April 1891, frontis by C.H. Shannon + 1 leaf illustrated poem recto and verso; No.24, October 1891, frontis + 1 full page plate, both after Jean Francois Millet from original impressions in the collection of M. Camille Pissarro, top wrap with marginal part loss; No.25, January 1882, frontis after Sir Peter Lely; No.26, April 1892, frontis after Millet + 1 full page plate; No.2, 1893, frontis by C.H. Shannon + full page plate after Simeon Solomon. All quarto, original pictorial wraps, woodcut decorations and initials and aforementioned full page plates/illustrations. A part set of the highly influential magazine produced by one of the most important 19th century Arts and Crafts organisations, with the rarely found suppressed issue. The Century Guild was founded in 1882 by the architect Arthur Heygate Mackmurdo to produce decorative work in every field of interior design including architecture, decorative painting, furniture, metalwork, ceramics and glass. There was an emphasis on crafts rather than mechanical production and in particular the new style of Art Nouveau, evident in the woodcut decorations and monogram by Mackmurdo. The architect Herbert P.Horne and artist & writer Selwyn Image were the fellow members and co-editors but many other artists were involved with the group. In 1884 they started The Century Guild Hobby Horse, concentrating on the visual arts but also including literature and social issues. It was a high quality magazine printed on handmade paper, illustrated with woodcuts and lithographs and used photogravure for reproductions, while the progressive typography and design of the main part was done or guided by Emery Walker and printed at the Chiswick Press. Contributors/content include Oscar Wilde, W.M. Rossetti, Christina Rossetti, William and May Morris, John Ruskin, Arthur Galton, John Addington Symonds, Paul Verlaine, Inigo Jones, Edward Burne-Jones, Simeon Solomon, Arthur Burgess, Ford Madox Brown, William Strang, G.F. Watts, Frederic Shields, Frederick Sandys, Jean Francois Millet etc etc. The Guild influenced C.F.A.Voysey and Charles Rennie Mackintosh and other members of the Arts and Crafts movement; the magazine developed book-design leading to periodicals such as The Yellow Book and The Savoy. (21)