GUTHRIE, James (editor)

The Bookplate Magazine. Number Eight, September 1921. Special Double Number [cover title]

London, The Morland Press, September 1921.

Quarto, pages 235-282 with numerous decorative initials and 28 illustrations (4 in colour). Loosely inserted is a prospectus for 'The Focus of Life' by occult artist Austin Osman Spare.

Overlapping pictorial wrappers a little marked and creased, with a few short tears at the edges; occasional foxing internally; overall a very good copy.

'With this number we say farewell. After two years, full of happy memories, "The Bookplate Magazine" ceases to exist.... it is impossible to continue without incurring losses heavier than the enterprise justifies. That is the sole reason why this, the eighth number, is also the last' (page 282). Number One appeared in July 1919; Number Seven in June 1921.

In this issue, there are three full-page bookplates by Thomas Elmes, 'a young Australian artist of singular promise. He came to London after service in the army, and has since been making a reputation for the strength of his pen work - which even the use of a Waterman could not improve - and the sureness of his line' (page 282).

Thomas Patrick Elmes (1896-1981) was born in Melbourne, of Irish descent: he 'joined the Australian Imperial Force in 1916 and came to Europe at the age of nineteen to fight in the Great War. He was already known as an artist and cartoonist, working in Sydney for the "Cartoon Newspaper" and he decided to remain in England after the war. Working under his professional name of "Rick Elmes" he was soon a regular contributor to "The Bystander", "The Sphere", and in particular the "Daily Herald".

In 1926 he illustrated Stephen Graham's "London Nights: Studies and Sketches of London at Night" (London, George H. Doran, 1926) and in 1927 worked for the "Illustrated London News". In 1933 he illustrated Stephen Graham's "Twice Round the London Clock & More London Nights" (London, Ernest Benn, 1933), and in this year ... he also drew cartoons for the weekly magazine "Punch". Rick was also responsible for drawing Bobby Bear in "Mickey Mouse Weekly" in 1936, and also drew the popular and long-running daily cartoon strip "All in a Day's Work", published in the "Daily Herald", going on to provide cartoon illustration for the "Happy Families Comic" in 1938' (details from an extensive article on Elmes' son and namesake, also an artist, found online at 'The Bagley Brief').

See Fuller's 'A Bibliography of Bookplate Literature', page 32. Provenance: H.B. (Harry) Muir (1909-1992), bookseller, publisher and bookplate collector; by descent.

Item #134264

Price (AUD): $250.00
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