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HEAD-PIECES BY EINAR NERMAN FOR HANS ANDERSEN'S “PER SVINAHERDE.” PUBLISHED BY P. A. NORSTEDT UND SÖNER
AMERICA
THE ART OF THE BOOK IN AMERICA BY WILLIAM DANA ORCUTT
THE Art of the Book in America received a tremendous impetus as a result of the work of William Morris in England. Previous to that time American printing showed no originality, the finest examples being based firmly upon the best English work of the period. The highest point of excellence was reached during the decade from 1860 to 1870, and no better example of orthodox printing could be cited than the “Life of Prescott,” produced by the University Press in 1864. After 1870, and down to the date of the Morris revival, well-made volumes were issued from the University, the Riverside and the De Vinne Presses, but the average quality deteriorated. The transition of book-making from a trade to an art dates from the appearance of the Kelmscott volumes.