Joseph Cundall: a Victorian Publisher Notes on his life and a check-list of his books

Pinner: Private Libraries Association, 1976. First edition, 1976. Hardback. viii, 96pp. Red cloth boards with gilt titles to spine. Top edge tinted red. Dust jacket. Joseph Cundall was notable as a publisher, editor, author, book-designer, and pioneer photographer. Born in 1818, he was trained as a printer but became a publisher in his early twenties and produced many of the most attractive and popular illustrated books of the 1850s and 1860s. His career as a photographer was also important, culminating in 1871 when the British Government sent him to Bayeaux to organize the first photographic record of the famous tapestry. In 1842, at the age of 25, Cundall became publisher of the Home Treasury series of children's books, conceived and edited by Henry Cole (who a few years later was one of the creators of the 1851 Great Exhibition). These are still some of the most beautiful children's books ever made. Cundall became bankrupt in 1849, and thereafter worked for other publishers on a freelance basis, mostly anonymously. For this reason his achievement has never been adequately recognized. In addition to four colour plates, the text is illustrated with upwards of 50 black and white illustrations, many taken from extremely rare or unique originals, or from proofs in Cundall family collections. Book in good condition. Bottom corners a little worn. Boards lightly soiled and with some discolouration to top and bottom, probably some mild damp damage. Internally very clean and bright and no evidence of damp damage other than some very, very slight bubbling to the paper of the front paste down and an extremely slight musty odour. Dust jacket good. Price clipped. Generally a little soiled. Some light edge wear and a few small nicks. Very small closed tear to lower edge.