A little book with an intriguing connection to Lawrence of Arabia: Richard Knowles tells the story.
The Pilgrim’s Progress from This World to That Which is to Come. Delivered Under the Similitude of a Dream. Wherin is Discovered the Manner of His Setting Out; His Dangerous Journey and Safe Arrival at the Desired Country. Essex House Press, 1899.
This is without doubt T.E. Lawrence’s own copy, number 407 of an edition of 750 copies. It is recorded in “T.E. Lawrence by His Friends” that this numbered copy was in the Clouds Hill Library of T.E. Lawrence. In “Friends, Vyvyan Richards records that; “He had a very good collection of the best hand-press books, from Kelmscott to Ashendene, and also a number of finely tooled bindings in which he rejoiced. In fact in order to decide on the type to be used in printing his own book, (Seven Pilliars, 1926) we gathered these hand-printed books in his room at All Souls College, and strewed them open over tables and chairs so that we could walk round and compare them. We chose independently and without discussion, and it was a satisfaction that we both wanted the same – the beautiful little Bunyan of C.R. Ashbee, a Caslon fount. This face has preserved its tradition so well that I do not think it was necessary to have special dies cut for the matrix of the monotype caster”. Here is that very volume! This is the third book from the Essex House Press while it was printing in East London. The Press had been founded by Laurence Hodson and C.R. Ashbee “in the hope to keep living the traditions of good printing that William Morris had revived”. They used two compositers and a pressman straight from Kelmscott. So here is a thrilling little book with a wonderful provenance.