T.J. Cobden-Sanderson founded the Doves Press four years after Morris’s death in 1896 with Emery Walker, Morris’s associate in founding the Kelmscott press. However, Cobden- Sanderson was hardly a blind admirer of Morris.  He even wrote an essay called “I Do Not Believe in the Doctrine of William Morris” in 1917.  While he respected Morris’s influence in the world of fine printing, he did not share his love of type design and disdain for bindings. Cobden-Sanderson used just one roman typeface for all the Doves Press publications, but his bindings were expressive, colorful, and varied. He also bound several works by Morris, including Art and Socialism and Hope, Fears for Art and Love is Enough.

 

  • A vellum binding with a flower illustration in the corners
    A vellum binding by Cobden-Sanderson, a striking contrast to Morris’s simple vellum bindings
  • A book binding with flower illustrations.
    An elaborate binding of Rossetti’s ‘Poems’ by Cobden-Sandeson
  • A binding with flower illustrations
    An embossed leather cover by Cobden-Sanderson, of ‘Sigurd the Volsung’ by Morris
  • The first page of a Bible with the words "In the beginning" in larger font and in red.
    The first page of Cobden-Sanderson’s Bible