Ashendene Press.- Hornby (C.H.St.John) A Descriptive Bibliography of the Books printed at the Ashendene Press MDCCCXCV-MCMXXXV, number 385 of 390 copies signed by the author/printer, Ptolemy type, printed in red and black, plates, illustrations and specimen leaves, some folding, a few with initials supplied by hand by Graily Hewitt, with both errata leaves tipped in at end, the printer's own copy with a few neat annotations in red ink by Sydney Cockerell and A.L.s. from him to Hornby tipped in, with Hornby's complete manuscript draft of the text of the prospectus and other related material loosely inserted, Hornby library book-label and his wife Cicely's pencil signature to front pastedown, variant binding of original pigskin, [by Douglas Cockerell] at the W.H.Smith Bindery, press device in gilt to upper cover, spine titled in gilt with five shallow raised bands, t.e.g., others uncut, very slightly rubbed and soiled, [Hornby XL; Franklin p.243], folio, Ashendene Press, 1935.

⁂ Cockerell's letter is dated 1 March 1946 (Hornby died a few weeks later on April 26th). In it he describes that "I had a sudden impulse to treat myself to a feast of Ashendene books. I started by going all through the Bibliography. How very perfect it is both as an example of printing and as an exposition and compilation!...What a row of typographical masterpieces...I got just as great a thrill as when they first came out...I felt positively exultant when I went late to bed. I add fresh congratulations and bravos to all those I have sent you in the past".

The other loosely inserted material comprises: a copy of the printed prospectus, 2 A.Ls.s. from Viola Meynell to Cicely Hornby dated 1952 requesting and thanking for permission to publish Cockerell's letter, and an offprint from The Spectator May 10 1946 containing 'A Great Printer', Cockerell's tribute to Hornby (torn and repaired).

The variant pigskin binding is much more durable than the usual russet calf.