Papermaking By Hand in America, 1950

Of Special Interest:

Our friends at International Paper's lab in Tuxedo, New York Inc. are closing the shop and moving.

Their thought was there was no better place in the area to leave this fine book.

Comments on the gift were for the: Professionalism and Credibility of Gomez Mill House in the preservation of a proud papermaking tradition.

We thank International Paper Inc and wish you all the best of luck!

Papermaking By Hand in America, 1950

On Saturday, January 31, 2004, Ginny Rizzo and Tom Macur of International Paper's lab in Tuxedo, New York presented to Gomez Mill House the classic and beautiful work by Dard Hunter and Dard Hunter Jr. -- Papermaking By Hand In America.

The IPC lab has had a close relationship with Mill House and for eight seasons provided a team each year as a Sunday at Mill House program to demonstrate the ancient process of making paper by hand in front of the Dard Hunter Mill. Thank you, International Paper, for participating in our programs and for this very, very fine gift.

Papermaking By Hand In America

Description: 326 pp. Profusely illustrated with tipped in reproductions and facsimiles of early printed notices, newspaper announcements and advertisements, book pages, etc. 17x11 1/2, original half canvas & patterned boards, paper spine label, folding morocco-backed cloth box. No. 120 of 210 copies hand printed on handmade paper by Dard Hunter and Dard Hunter Jr. Magnificent tribute to papermaking in early America, beautifully printed, and containing tipped-in reproductions of original colonial printings, advertisements, etc. This is the eighth book on the subject of papermaking to be made at the Mountain House Press, in the process of writing and production for many years and it is probable that this book will end the activities of this Private Press. Hunter notes in the preface that the original plan of this book was to include descriptions of all the milles within the 1690-1817 period, but due to the hand methods used in producing the present edition, it was found necessary to constrict the text to accounts of the first mill in each colony or state. The paper used in the book was hand-made in 1930 by Robert Robertson and his two sons. The type was designed, made and hand-set by Dard Hunter, Jr., and two hand presses were used in printing the book, Throughout the production of this book the work has been accomplished without thought of cost or desire for profit. The complete making of the edition from the raw materials -- new rags, steel, copper, lead, tin, and antimony -- has been a 'labour of love' in the truest sense. It is doubtful if a book of this size will ever again be made in this manner.

Note from Dard Hunter III

Bill and Ellen,

Congratulations on the new acquisition from IPC. That is really a great addition to the book collection. Even though it is a "art object", the information contained within would be of interest for those visiting from other states who have an interest in US paper history.

You should be interested to know that all the watermarked samples which are tipped in were made by my father at MIT using the beater that is now in the mill. Thanks for the pictures and I hope you receive a lot of enjoyment from the new book.

Best wishes to you both,

Dard