Blog Category: Literature (1 posts)

Guy Fairbank | 05th April 2022 | Guy the London Guide

Emery Walker House During the First World War, if you’d been walking across Hammersmith Bridge at night you might have spotted a shifty looking gentleman surreptitiously throwing bits of metal off the bridge and into the River Thames. This mysterious dumper was a disgruntled bookbinder by the name of Thomas James Cobden-Sanderson, who died 100 years ago this year. As for the metal, they were his collection of Doves Type, a beautifully designed font created with his partner Emery Walker. In the last years of the 19th century Thomas James Cobden-Sanderson (1840-1922) decided to abandon his life as a barrister and become a bookbinder. With his wife he set up the Doves Press at 1 Hammersmith Terrace, which they named after their local pub, the historic Dove. In 1900 he went into partnership with an engraver Emery Walker (1851-1933) and for the next few years created some of the most beautifully printed Arts and Crafts books. Inspired by 15th century Italian Renaissance books they designed a special Doves Press. They carved the punches by hand and only used one size - 16pt, in upper and lower case and no italics. Each book was beautifully produced and of the finest quality. They didn’t include illustrations; instead they used large wood-engraved capital letters. Their Doves Bible was a notable example of their craftsmanship. But their partnership did not last. Cobden-Sanderson became difficult to work with and their business arrangement was dissolved. It was agreed that Cobden-Sanderson would retain the exclusive rights as the older man, then on his death they would pass to Walker. Nonetheless, after the press closed in 1916, Cobden-Sanderson noted in his diary that he had ‘bequeathed’ the type to the bed of the River Thames. In fact he didn’t want the type falling into his ex-partner’s hands. Over several months, from August 1916 to January 1917, punches, frames and type were carefully disposed of in the river. All was carefully planne...