One of three pulls of this block, this one inked the lightest.
One of three pulls of this block, this one inked the in the middle of the three.
One of three pulls of this block, this one inked the heaviest of the three.
This block is shown and identified ("Heron taking an eel..."), related to its first appearance, in Ian Bain's 1981 edition of Bewick's My Life. Four pages are copied: 9, 95, 96, and the title-page with the Folio Society imprint.
One sheet of paper with a print in black (ice skaters on a pond) and text around it in red ("With a vignette engraved by Thomas Bewick in 1799 the Middletons send you Greetings - Christmas 1944.")
One color photograph print, 5" by 3.5" of a similar box, block and printed vignette (of a bird on a branch).
Block of cherry wood 2" wide by 2 and 3/4" long; 7/8" deep, with engraving some to the depth of 1/8" as the sides defining the area of the printed block. Engraved by Thomas Bewick.
A cardboard binding, 5 1/2" by 4 1/2" and with a taped spine, light olive color. Inside are five pieces of print paper imprinted with the block, but cut out in narrowing irregular circular patterns to allow for more impact on the paper from the inner parts of he engraved block. One complete print also present.
Fifty prints and red-imprinted folders ("Wood Engraving by Thomas Bewick / 1753-1828"), located in a niche in the box, adjacent to the block.
This is a standard envelope for holding unfolded standard stationery, with a flap at one end, here in the right. In pencil Middleton has written on it at he top in large letters, "Prints for Mrs. Paepcke." Below this, centered at the addressee location it reads "R. H. Middleton / 4722 Dover St. Chicago."
Mailed envelope, for first letter, autograph addressed and return address marked.
Short autograph letter signed acknowledging receipt of Sentman's check for $100 and his promise to deliver the item as promised, beginning work immediately. Same stationery and simple letterhead, etc.
One page autograph letter signed "Bob M." The stationery is a simple sheet of onionskin with the name and address upper left. Addressed "Dear Everett," it implies an earlier conversation to which this a follow-up in writing detailing an offer of a block and related work by him for a sum of $100 (this was he year the U.S. devalued the dollar by going off the gold standard, and this price reflects the earlier exchange rate of $32 per ounce of gold). He details what he is offering. the box and lid are "made form binders board covered with cloth an[d] gold stamped." there will be fifty prints from the block. The letter is signed "cordially." Sentman, who lived on Illinois Road near the College in the 1970s, was editor at United Educators, Lake Bluff. This was purchased after his retirement.
A copy of v. 6, no. 10 (October 1998) of the Caxtonian, with "The Professional Bookman: Middleton at Ludlow," 1, 6, by Paul Gehl, and "Beck's Turtle Press Emerged from Bob Middleton's Cherryburn Press," 7, by Bruce Beck.
One print in a simple stiff paper gray folder, 10" by 6.25," folded in thirds, with a window in the third section, folded under the first third. In the window is the print, a study of roman capitals Middleton "later used used" for "hand engraved boxwood bookplates." The block had been engraved in 1953, and though some proofs were made, no edition was printed prior to this one for a Caxton Club keepsake. (Taken from the colophon, on the back, the verso of the middle section of the folder.) The print is initialed in pencil in large fine capitals, centered under the print. in smaller pencil are the date "1985" immediately under the print block on the right and "56/275" in the same size and position on the left. The folder was printed at the Turtle Press of Chicago printer Bruce Beck.
Associated items in the box include most notably Middleton's innovative make-ready for printing this block, a build-up of layers of carefully cut layers to force the print page into the grooves of the engraved wood. There is also correspondence with the former owner, Everett Sentman of Lake Forest, and a 1944 holiday card with an engraving from a block of Bewick's printed by Middleton. The bulk of the box's contents though consists of fifty prints by Middleton of the "Crane Hawking"/"Heron taking an eel" vignette and fifty folders for them.
The small Bewick wood block, etc. group consists of the contents of a specially-made box, approx. 6" wide by 7" tall by 2" deep. The box was created by Chicago avocational private printer R. Hunter Middleton, preserver and printer of Thomas Bewick's late 1700s-early 1800s wood engraved blocks. The block is Bewick's "Crane Hawking" vignette, as identified by Middleton on a small print. This print is identified by Ian Bain (1981, p. 9) as "A heron taking an eel..." which was first published in British Birds, 1847.
One of three pulls on fine paper of this large block, this one inked in the middle and with more detail of the fence post, but perhaps less on the left. All are 8" by 10."
One of three pulls on fine paper of this large block, this one inked more the lightest among the three, and showing more detail on the left side but less of the fence post under the tail. All are 8" by 10."