John Ruskin | Series of c.105 autograph letters signed, to Henry Jowett

John Ruskin

Series of c.100 autograph letters, mostly signed with initials ("J.R.", some signed in full, some incomplete or with clipped signatures), to Henry Jowett

on printing and publishing, sending manuscripts ("...I send you the end of Fors Clavigera! & very thankful to have been spared to end it in better hope than I began..."), revised proofs, corrections, and with instructions over such issues as typography, illustrations, and cover design, including frequent complaints ("...I am aghast at the time this chapter has been in your types..."), relating to works including Fors Clavigera, Praeterita ("...I mean to do Praeterita my own way..."), Proserpina, Deucalion, lectures, translations, some later letters also acknowledging his declining health, including c.3 letters written on his behalf by Joan Severn, and four other letters, various locations including Broadlands, Brantwood, Herne Hill, Corpus Christi College Oxford, c.137 pages, chiefly 8vo, 1876-88, in a green morocco gilt album stamped in gilt, the majority of the letters mounted but c.35 letters loosely inserted, spotting, occasional staining, some letters torn with loss or clipped, upper hinge of album split

Henry Jowett was the manager of Messrs. Hazell, Watson & Viney’s printing works at Aylesbury. The company printed most of Ruskin's books during the period covered by these letters, which show Ruskin's close attention to bibliographical details such as typeface and layout as well as to his own text. Although he could be critical of Jowett's work, Ruskin's appreciation of the skill of a master printer is evident in these letters.