With two initialled wood-engraved cards and a signed letter to a fellow artist

Mackley, George ~ Wood Engraving : Inscribed by the Author and with a H/W Letter Signed to a Fellow Artist

The National Magazine Company, London : 1948

The First UK printing published by The National Magazine Company, London in 1948. 8vo., black cloth, title lettered in yellow to upper cover and backstrip; together in the very elusive unclipped pictorial wrapper (15/- to front flap); upper edge yellow top-stain faded ; with frontis engraving, and numerous other illustrations in black and white throughout text, including several diagrams and engravings by the artist; The BOOK a very good example with some very light mottling to boards; a little rubbed at spine tips; light spotting mostly affecting endpapers, prelims and upper edge; The scarce WRAPPER is in Very Good++ condition , a little rubbed along spine and folds, with two small holes to the lower panel and some losses to the head and foot, up to 1cm in depth, not affecting lettering. The wrapper is protected in a removable Brodart archival cover. This copy inscribed by George Mackley to the front end-paper : "Your acquisition of this book is appreciated as a mark of your great interest in the woodengraver's craft, George Mackley". Together with five blank notecards featuring wood engravings, the two in colour 'hand printed from the box-wood block engraved by George Mackley' and initialed by him in pencil; and a folded handwritten letter, written in black ink by Mackley to Laurence Lee, the stained glass artist, together with the original hand-addressed, stamped envelope. Dated Christmas 1980, Mackley remembers Iain McNab (the noted wood engraver, who passed away in 1967), and apologises for not being able to send him a card "as you may know, the Society for the Maintenance of Aesthetic Standards struck me off their roll years ago and in consequence, wood blocks rest safely in their beds with no pressure from me". "If gravers cannot make marks on wood, a pen can still make marks on paper", he writes, "The marks here made are to the effect that I wish you a very happy Christmas." "The engraving practice in which I was engaged ended long ago", he concludes, "It is, however, very kind of you to take such a keen interest in the exhumation". A lovely first edition of this important book on the subject and craft of wood engraving, with chapters ranging from design, to preparation of the block, engraving tools and printing, and final sections concerning the works of Thomas Bewick and some other modern wood engravings. Copiously illustrated throughout, the book ends with eighteen pages of plates depicting the works of Agnes Miller Parker, Blair Hughes-Stanton, Gertrude Hermes and many others. George Mackley (1900-1983) was trained as a teacher of art at the Goldsmiths' College in London before discovering the art of wood engraving through Noel Rooke, one of the founders of the Society of Wood Engravers. This publication is still considered today to be one of the most important manuals concerning wood engraving techniques. The scarce first issue, with wonderful association material.

BINDING: Hardcover
CONDITION: Very Good++
JACKET: Very Good++