The Water Meads

Ditchling: St. Dominic's Press, 1927. Hardcover. First Edition. Limited to 100 numbered copies of which this No. 75. 12mo. [xviii.] 16pp. Bound in vellum blocked in gold. [Taylor & Sewell A151.] Shewring was a key figure in the art making religious communities formed by Eric Gill, Hilary Pepler, David Jones and others, most typified by the publications of their St. Dominic's Press. As Fiona MacCarthy details in her biography of Eric Gill, Shewring was 'one of the essential people - his presence was accepted and his talents were made use - the resident intellectual.' She goes on that Shewring became a 'son-substitute' to Gill who 'came to rely on his mental vigour.' After Gill's death, Shewring was integral in the codification and dissemination of the Ditchling/Pigotts/Capel-y-fin ethos. In presentation letters housed in the Dominican Archives, Shewring writes that this volume is his 'earliest work' and cheekily admits that 'though not free from blemishes, considerably above Pepler's usual standard.' VERY GOOD. Shows some rubbing and handling of the vellum boards which are currently somewhat bowed, light natural toning of the endpaper, otherwise the binding is strong and tight, the text is clean and unmarked, and the boards remain distinct. As pictured.