Golden Cockerel Press Books
Golden Cockerel Press - History
Phase 1 from 1920 when Golden Cockerel Press was started by Harold (Hal) Midgley Taylor. Their first publications included Adam and Eve and Pinch Me, short stories by a new author, at that time A. E. Coppard. Initially a co-operative, by 1921 the press employed its first 3 members of staff, and in 1923 published its first illustrated book.
In the golden era from 1924 Robert Gibbings took the helm. It was under Gibbings that the Golden Cockerel typeface was designed by Eric Gill in 1931. He engaged the leading designers of the era. 71 titles were printed, with runs of between 250 and 750. The major titles were the four volume Canterbury Tales (1929 to 1931) and the Four Gospels (1931), both illustrated by Eric Gill.
In 1933 Christopher Sandford, Owen Rutter, and Francis J. Newbery led the third phase in which the press became a publishing house. Sandford introduced colour illustrations,[12] anathema to private press purists, along with lithography and colour collotype. Around 120 works were published during this era.
In the final phase from 1959 to 1961 with Thomas Yoseloff, just 4 titles were produced, apparently due to difficulty in sourcing the necessary fine bookcraft skills.
