Pindar’s Odes of Victory
Pindar’s Odes of Victory
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A beautiful and genuinely scarce 1928 limited edition of Pindar’s Odes of Victory, printed at the celebrated Shakespeare Head Press, Stratford-upon-Avon, and published by Basil Blackwell.
This handsome fine-press volume contains Pindar’s Olympian and Pythian Odes, presented in the original Greek alongside the English verse translation by C. J. Billson, and is embellished throughout with striking wood engravings by the renowned British artist and illustrator John Farleigh.
Importantly, this is one of the 250 numbered copies produced for sale in Great Britain, and is specifically numbered:
No. 103 of 250
The limitation statement is printed within the book, providing excellent confirmation of its scarcity.
The book retains its original distinctive decorated paper-covered boards with black cloth spine, featuring the striking Greek lettering and eagle design to the upper cover. The exterior shows some expected age-related rubbing, marking and wear to the boards and corners, including a little loss/wear to the paper at the edges. The spine itself remains sound.
The interior is remarkably well preserved, with crisp, clean pages and only very limited foxing. The typography, Greek text, illustrations and quality of the paper are particularly impressive and demonstrate the craftsmanship for which the Shakespeare Head Press was renowned.
A particularly attractive example for collectors of fine press books, Greek literature, classical studies, private press printing and illustrated books, and a wonderful piece of 1920s British book production.
Published 1928 | Shakespeare Head Press | Limited edition of 250 | Copy No. 103 | John Farleigh wood engravings | C. J. Billson translation
A small original bookseller’s label to the front pastedown reads “F. W. Preece & Sons, Booksellers, Adelaide”, providing an interesting Australian provenance. F. W. Preece & Sons was a notable Adelaide bookselling and publishing firm, and their labels are recorded in other examples of British fine-press and private-press books of the period.
