Live Auction 19041The Delighted Eye: Works from the Collection of Allen and Beryl Freer
DAVID JONES, C.H. (1895-1974)
Lot 378

DAVID JONES, C.H. (1895-1974)

The Chester Play of the Deluge: Five plates

Closed23 January 2020

Price Realised

GBP 5,250

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DAVID JONES, C.H. (1895-1974)
The Chester Play of the Deluge: Five plates
wood engravings, 1926-27, comprising four plates on Japan paper, each signed, dated, titled and inscribed in pencil, rare proofs before the book edition published by the Golden Cockerel Press, Waltham St. Lawrence, 1927, framed; and one plate on wove paper, presumably from the later edition of 250 published by the Rampant Lions Press, 1977
Blocks 6 ½ x 5 ½ in. (165 x 140 mm.), Sheets 10 x 8 ¼ in. (255 x 210 mm.)
(5)

Eric Gill (1882-1940); a gift from the artist (according to the dedication). (Noe receives the plans of the Ark)

Specialist note


The lot comprises:

Anti-deluvian society, on Japan paper, signed with intials, dated '26', titled and inscribed '(Proof)' in pencil;
Noe receives the plans of the Ark, on Japan paper, signed with intials, dated '27', titled and inscribed 'proof' in pencil, dedicated From DJ to EG. St. Peter's Chair at Antioche 1927. with much love' in pencil;
The Deluge, on Japan paper, signed, dated '27', titled and inscribed 'Edition of 20';
After the Deluge, on wove paper;
The Oblation of Noe, on wove paper, signed, dated '26', titled and inscribed 'Proof.' in pencil.

The Chester Play of the Deluge is regarded as one of David Jones's most important works, and one of the great books published by Robert Gibbings at the Golden Cockerel Press. Jones was, however, disappointed with the quality of Gibbing's printings of his blocks, caused in part by the use of an undampened, heavy wove paper which failed to pick up the nuances of Jones's delicate engravings. The proofs on Japan paper, of which there are four rare examples in this lot, were much finer in quality, and clearly to the satisfaction of the artist who gave an impression to his friend and mentor, Eric Gill.