The Incline Press of Oldham, Lancashire, is a hand-printing fine press with the motto: ‘For the reader who collects and the collector who reads.’ When their latest newsletter arrived, I was at once enthralled by the title ‘Eric Ravilious and the Griffin passant he engraved for London Transport.' Not only am I an enthusiast of mid-20th century modern English artists such as Ravilious, but also of all matters heraldic.
The notice explained that a zinc printing block depicting the eponymous beast had turned up among a jumble of commercial designs and, fortunately, been recognised for what it was. The griffin was adopted, and adapted, from the arms of the City of London Corporation. It had been commissioned from Ravilious to adorn items in London Transport’s canteens, such as packets of tea, biscuits, chocolate and chipolata sausages. I like the fact they had a care for style and distinction even in ordinary things. The original engraving seems lost and this block may be its only preserved form.
The pamphlet, Griffin Passant, offers an imprint of the griffin and a note about its origin and rediscovery. As ever with this press, there is a care for nice details: ‘The text is hand set in Blado and Poliphilus types, in an edition of 225 numbered copies. The handmade ledger paper we have used is watermarked T H SAUNDERS 1962, when use of this image was still current. The pages are sewn into a card cover with a titled wrapper.’
The Press offers other pleasant, well-crafted editions, including of Edward Lear’s ‘The Owl and the Pussycat’ and G.K. Chesterton’s ‘The Rolling English Drunkard’.
(Mark Valentine)
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