Running waters : written for Everil Venman

Lower Ferntree Gully, Vic. :  John T. Kirtley, 1952 . Folio, gilt-lettered cloth, pp. [5] plus three blanks, printed letterpress. One of only ten hand-printed copies, numbered and signed by the author and publisher.

John Kirtley (1897-1967) is an important figure in Australian printing having produced the first Australian hand-printed books. Introduced by Philip Lindsay to his brother Jack, Kirtley was a pivotal figure in the establishment of the Fanfrolico Press in England. After he returned to Australia he produced Heemskerck Shoals, then the finest work of hand-printing undertaken in Australia.

Loosely enclosed is a copy of Bohemia : the official organ of the Bread and Cheese Club, Melbourne, 153rd issue, Vol. 13, No. 5, 1st March 1958, with a review of the publication and discussion of Kirtley’s works.

Rare, with no copies traced at auction or within the trade.

Three copies recorded in Australian collections (SLV, SLNSW, SLSA).

References:

not in Arnold & Hay, Bibliography of Australian Literature.

not in Farmer, Private Presses in Australia

Unrecorded by Miller/Macartney.

Provenance :

John Kirtley

gifted to Keith Wingrove (with a personalised inscription dated Christmas 1953)

private collection, Melbourne