1991.1016.25.2

Clarke Conwell (printer)

Letter to Emery Walker from Clarke Conwell of The Elston Press, New York dated May 15 but no year. Found in, The Art and Craft of Printing by Morris, William, shelf C1. Part of the Emery Walker Library.

New York

20th century

handwritten, printed

Letter from Mr Clarke Conwell, The Elston Press, New Rochelle, New York to Emery Walker regarding subsequent to 1991.1016.25.a. Dated only May 15thth. Found in The Art of Printing by William Morris. From Mr. Clarke Conwell, The ELSTON Press[i] Ninety-eight Pelham Road, New Rochelle, New York Emery Walker, Esq My dear sir, [Asking] you to pardon my delay in acknowledging your note of March 29th but it has been un-avoidable. You will find the presswork of the “Comus” better, I think, than the “Note etc” – it is a point [I lay] great stress on – to my mind faulty presswork can spoil all one’s good work in [other] directions. You asked about the paper I use – it is made here in America but is not equal in quality to the English papers, though I am trying to improve its quality, and. I think, gradually succeeding – I am making a lighter weight now than formerly which is in line with your own criticism. I will give you a suggestion of some of the difficulties I have encountered when I tell you that for a long time the mill (there is only one [inserted: handmade mill] in America) refused to make 19 x 26 paper of less than 50 lbs per ream at any price. I should be interested to know Mr Cobden-Sanderson’s opinion, as well as your own, of the binding on “Comus” that is to say on the sewing and forwarding. It was done at one of our best binderies and is much the best work I have yet succeeded in getting. With kind regards I am, dear sir Faithfully yours Clarke Conwell May 15th [Footnote: [i] The Elston Press operated between 1900 and 1904 and moved to New Rochelle in 1901. It was started by Clarke Conwell and his wife Helen Marguerite O’Kane. CAW]