1935 Rm1

Copies examined

Curwen Press: K26

Copies located

British Library: P.P.1622.bcn

Title page

[1]3r

[within a 4-rule border] SIGNATURE | A QUADRIMESTRIAL OF | TYPOGRAPHY | AND GRAPHIC ARTS | EDITED | BY OLIVER SIMON | 1 | NOVEMBER | 1935 | SIGNATURE | 37 MUSEUM STREET | LONDON

Imprint

[1]3v

. . . | COLLOTYPE PLATES PRINTED AT THE CHISWICK PRESS

Collation

[1-8]4; inserts after [5]1 and [5]2, and 2 pairs sewn into centre of [8].

Pagination

[8] 1-4 [5] 6 [7] 8 [9] 10 [11] 12 [13] 14-6 [17] 18 [19] 20 [21] 22 [23] 24-9 [30] 31-3 [34-41] 42-52 [+4].

Technical description

Crown 4o: 10¾" × 7⅜", trimmed, white wove, no mark; 14(+3)pt. Walbaum; collotype illustrations on inserts;halftone and line block illustrations in text; grey laid paper wrappers, printed up spine in red: ‘SIGNATURE NO. 1’, and on upper wrapper: ‘SIGNATURE | [swelled rule] | A QUADRIMESTRIAL | OF TYPOGRAPHY AND GRAPHIC ARTS | EDITED BY OLIVER SIMON | 1 | NOVEMBER 1935 | PUBLISHED AT 37 MUSEUM STREET, LONDON, W.C. | PRICE : THREE SHILLINGS NET’, and on lower wrapper an advertisement; portfolio for issues 1-3.

Notes

Continues 4-monthly till no.15, December 1940, in similar style, except that 14 and 15 are set in Bembo. Inserts of lithographs, collotypes, and other specimens of printed matter.

One might suppose that Signature was suspended owing to the Second World War, but Harley (Harley 1970 p.21) states that finishing in Dec 1940 was the original intention.

An index to all issues of Signature appears in Simon 1956 pp.141-7; Oliver Simon retained personally the ownership of Signature; see Simon 1973 p.231.

Of issue 1 627 copies were sold; see Simon 1956 p.128.

For New Series 1-18, 1946-54, see Simon 1973 p.231.

See also

Robin Phillips, 1963

1936 Rm2

Copies examined

Curwen Press: K26

Copies located

British Library: P.P.1622.bcn

Title page

[1]3r

[within a 4-rule border] SIGNATURE | A QUADRIMESTRIAL OF | TYPOGRAPHY | AND GRAPHIC ARTS | EDITED | BY OLIVER SIMON | 2 | MARCH | 1936 | SIGNATURE | 37 MUSEUM STREET | LONDON

Imprint

[1]3v

. . . | COLLOTYPE PLATES PRINTED AT THE CHISWICK PRESS

Collation

[1-8]4; inserts after [5]1 and [5]2, and 2 pairs sewn into centre of [8].

Pagination

[8] 1-4 [5] 6 [7] 8 [9] 10 [11] 12 [13] 14-6 [17] 18 [19] 20 [21] 22 [23] 24-9 [30] 31-3 [34-41] 42-52 [+4].

Technical description

Crown 4o: 10¾" × 7⅜", trimmed, white wove, no mark; 14(+3)pt. Walbaum; collotype illustrations on inserts;halftone and line block illustrations in text; grey laid paper wrappers, printed up spine in red: ‘SIGNATURE NO. 1’, and on upper wrapper: ‘SIGNATURE | [swelled rule] | A QUADRIMESTRIAL | OF TYPOGRAPHY AND GRAPHIC ARTS | EDITED BY OLIVER SIMON | 1 | NOVEMBER 1935 | PUBLISHED AT 37 MUSEUM STREET, LONDON, W.C. | PRICE : THREE SHILLINGS NET’, and on lower wrapper an advertisement; portfolio for issues 1-3.

Notes

Continues 4-monthly till no.15, December 1940, similarly, except for change of typeface at issue 14. Inserts of lithographs, collotypes, and other specimens of printed matter.

An index to all issues of Signature appears in Simon 1956 pp.141-7; Oliver Simon retained personally the ownership of Signature; see Simon 1973 p.231.

Of issue 2 575 copies were sold; see Simon 1956 p.128.

See also

Robin Phillips, 1963

1936 Rm3

Copies examined

Curwen Press: K26

Copies located

British Library: P.P.1622.bcn

Title page

[1]3r

[within a 4-rule border] SIGNATURE | A QUADRIMESTRIAL OF | TYPOGRAPHY | AND GRAPHIC ARTS | EDITED | BY OLIVER SIMON | 3 | JULY | 1936 | SIGNATURE | 37 MUSEUM STREET | LONDON

Imprint

As Rm1.

Collation and pagination

As Rm1.

Technical description

Format, paper, type, illustrations, and wrappers similar to Rm1; portfolio for issues 1-3.

Notes

Continues 4-monthly till no.15, December 1940, similarly, except for change of typeface at issue 14. Inserts of lithographs, collotypes, and other specimens of printed matter.

An index to all issues of Signature appears in Simon 1956 pp.141-7; Oliver Simon retained personally the ownership of Signature; see Simon 1973 p.231.

Of issue 3 564 copies were sold; see Simon 1956 p.128.

See also

Robin Phillips, 1963

1936 Rm4

Copies examined

Curwen Press: K26

Copies located

British Library: P.P.1622.bcn

Title page

[1]3r

[within a 4-rule border] SIGNATURE | A QUADRIMESTRIAL OF | TYPOGRAPHY | AND GRAPHIC ARTS | EDITED | BY OLIVER SIMON | 4 | NOVEMBER | 1936 | SIGNATURE | 37 MUSEUM STREET | LONDON

Imprint

As Rm1.

Collation and pagination

As Rm1.

Technical description

Format, paper, type, illustrations, and wrappers similar to Rm1; portfolio for issues 4-6.

Notes

Continues 4-monthly till no.15, December 1940, similarly, except for change of typeface at issue 14. Inserts of lithographs, collotypes, and other specimens of printed matter.

An index to all issues of Signature appears in Simon 1956 pp.141-7; Oliver Simon retained personally the ownership of Signature; see Simon 1973 p.231.

Of issue 4 481 copies were sold; see Simon 1956 p.128.

See also

Robin Phillips, 1963

1937 Rm5

Copies examined

Curwen Press: K26

Copies located

British Library: P.P.1622.bcn

Title page

[1]3r

[within a 4-rule border] SIGNATURE | A QUADRIMESTRIAL OF | TYPOGRAPHY | AND GRAPHIC ARTS | EDITED | BY OLIVER SIMON | 5 | MARCH | 1937 | SIGNATURE | 37 MUSEUM STREET | LONDON

Imprint

As Rm1.

Collation and pagination

As Rm1.

Technical description

Format, paper, type, illustrations, and wrappers similar to Rm1; portfolio for issues 4-6.

Notes

Continues 4-monthly till no.15, December 1940, similarly, except for change of typeface at issue 14. Inserts of lithographs, collotypes, and other specimens of printed matter.

An index to all issues of Signature appears in Simon 1956 pp.141-7; Oliver Simon retained personally the ownership of Signature; see Simon 1973 p.231.

Of issue 5 450 copies were sold; see Simon 1956 p.128.

See also

Robin Phillips, 1963

1937 Rm6

Copies examined

Curwen Press: K26

Copies located

British Library: P.P.1622.bcn

Title page

[1]3r

[within a 4-rule border] SIGNATURE | A QUADRIMESTRIAL OF | TYPOGRAPHY | AND GRAPHIC ARTS | EDITED | BY OLIVER SIMON | 6 | JULY | 1937 | SIGNATURE | 37 MUSEUM STREET | LONDON

Imprint

As Rm1.

Collation and pagination

As Rm1.

Technical description

Format, paper, type, illustrations, and wrappers similar to Rm1; portfolio for issues 4-6.

Notes

An index to all issues of Signature appears in Simon 1956 pp.141-7; Oliver Simon retained personally the ownership of Signature; see Simon 1973 p.231.

Of issue 6 444 copies were sold; see Simon 1956 p.128.

See also

Robin Phillips, 1963

1937 Rm7

Copies examined

Curwen Press: K26

Copies located

British Library: P.P.1622.bcn

Title page

[1]3r

[within a 4-rule border] SIGNATURE | A QUADRIMESTRIAL OF | TYPOGRAPHY | AND GRAPHIC ARTS | EDITED | BY OLIVER SIMON | 7 | NOVEMBER | 1937 | SIGNATURE | 37 MUSEUM STREET | LONDON

Imprint

As Rm1.

Collation and pagination

As Rm1.

Technical description

Format, paper, type, illustrations, and wrappers similar to Rm1; portfolio for issues 7-9.

Notes

Continues 4-monthly till no.15, December 1940, similarly, except for change of typeface at issue 14. Inserts of lithographs, collotypes, and other specimens of printed matter.

An index to all issues of Signature appears in Simon 1956 pp.141-7; Oliver Simon retained personally the ownership of Signature; see Simon 1973 p.231.

Of issue 7 750 copies were printed; see Simon 1956 p.128.

See also

Robin Phillips, 1963

1938 Rm8

Copies examined

Curwen Press: K26

Copies located

British Library: P.P.1622.bcn

Title page

[1]3r

[within a 4-rule border] SIGNATURE | A QUADRIMESTRIAL OF | TYPOGRAPHY | AND GRAPHIC ARTS | EDITED | BY OLIVER SIMON | 8 | MARCH | 1938 | SIGNATURE | 37 MUSEUM STREET | LONDON

Imprint

As Rm1.

Collation and pagination

As Rm1.

Technical description

Format, paper, type, illustrations, and wrappers similar to Rm1; portfolio for issues 7-9.

Notes

Continues 4-monthly till no.15, December 1940, similarly, except for change of typeface at issue 14. Inserts of lithographs, collotypes, and other specimens of printed matter.

An index to all issues of Signature appears in Simon 1956 pp.141-7; Oliver Simon retained personally the ownership of Signature; see Simon 1973 p.231.

Of issue 8 750 copies were printed; see Simon 1956 p.128.

See also

Robin Phillips, 1963

1938 Rm9

Copies examined

Curwen Press: K26

Copies located

British Library: P.P.1622.bcn

Title page

[1]3r

[within a 4-rule border] SIGNATURE | A QUADRIMESTRIAL OF | TYPOGRAPHY | AND GRAPHIC ARTS | EDITED | BY OLIVER SIMON | 9 | JULY | 1938 | SIGNATURE | 37 MUSEUM STREET | LONDON

Imprint

As Rm1.

Collation and pagination

As Rm1.

Technical description

Format, paper, type, illustrations, and wrappers similar to Rm1; portfolio for issues 7-9.

Notes

Continues 4-monthly till no.15, December 1940, similarly, except for change of typeface at issue 14. Inserts of lithographs, collotypes, and other specimens of printed matter.

An index to all issues of Signature appears in Simon 1956 pp.141-7; Oliver Simon retained personally the ownership of Signature; see Simon 1973 p.231.

Of issue 9 750 copies were printed; see Simon 1956 p.128.

See also

Robin Phillips, 1963

1938 Rm10

Copies examined

Curwen Press: K26

Copies located

British Library: P.P.1622.bcn

Title page

[1]3r

[within a 4-rule border] SIGNATURE | A QUADRIMESTRIAL OF | TYPOGRAPHY | AND GRAPHIC ARTS | EDITED | BY OLIVER SIMON | 10 | NOVEMBER | 1938 | SIGNATURE | 37 MUSEUM STREET | LONDON

Imprint

As Rm1.

Collation and pagination

As Rm1.

Technical description

Format, paper, type, illustrations, and wrappers similar to Rm1; portfolio for issues 10-12.

Notes

Continues 4-monthly till no.15, December 1940, similarly, except for change of typeface at issue 14. Inserts of lithographs, collotypes, and other specimens of printed matter.

An index to all issues of Signature appears in Simon 1956 pp.141-7; Oliver Simon retained personally the ownership of Signature; see Simon 1973 p.231.

Of issue 10 750 copies were printed; see Simon 1956 p.128.

See also

Robin Phillips, 1963

1939 Rm11

Copies examined

Curwen Press: K26

Copies located

British Library: P.P.1622.bcn

Title page

[1]3r

[within a 4-rule border] SIGNATURE | A QUADRIMESTRIAL OF | TYPOGRAPHY | AND GRAPHIC ARTS | EDITED | BY OLIVER SIMON | 11 | MARCH | 1939 | SIGNATURE | 37 MUSEUM STREET | LONDON

Imprint

As Rm1.

Collation and pagination

As Rm1.

Technical description

Format, paper, type, illustrations, and wrappers similar to Rm1; portfolio for issues 10-12.

Notes

Continues 4-monthly till no.15, December 1940, similarly, except for change of typeface at issue 14. Inserts of lithographs, collotypes, and other specimens of printed matter.

An index to all issues of Signature appears in Simon 1956 pp.141-7; Oliver Simon retained personally the ownership of Signature; see Simon 1973 p.231.

Of issue 11 750 copies were printed; see Simon 1956 p.128.

See also

Robin Phillips, 1963

1939 Rm12

Copies examined

Curwen Press: K26

Copies located

British Library: P.P.1622.bcn

Title page

[1]3r

[within a 4-rule border] SIGNATURE | A QUADRIMESTRIAL OF | TYPOGRAPHY | AND GRAPHIC ARTS | EDITED | BY OLIVER SIMON | 12 | JULY | 1939 | SIGNATURE | 37 MUSEUM STREET | LONDON

Imprint

As Rm1.

Collation and pagination

As Rm1.

Technical description

Format, paper, type, illustrations, and wrappers similar to Rm1; portfolio for issues 10-12.

Notes

Continues 4-monthly till no.15, December 1940, similarly, except for change of typeface at issue 14. Inserts of lithographs, collotypes, and other specimens of printed matter.

An index to all issues of Signature appears in Simon 1956 pp.141-7; Oliver Simon retained personally the ownership of Signature; see Simon 1973 p.231.

Of issue 12 750 copies were printed; see Simon 1956 p.128.

See also

Robin Phillips, 1963

1939 Rm13

Copies examined

Curwen Press: K26

Copies located

British Library: P.P.1622.bcn

Title page

[1]3r

[within a 4-rule border] SIGNATURE | A QUADRIMESTRIAL OF | TYPOGRAPHY | AND GRAPHIC ARTS | EDITED | BY OLIVER SIMON | 13 | NOVEMBER | 1939 | SIGNATURE | 37 MUSEUM STREET | LONDON

Imprint

As Rm1.

Collation and pagination

As Rm1.

Technical description

Format, paper, type, illustrations, and wrappers similar to Rm1; portfolio for issues 13-15..

Notes

Continues 4-monthly till no.15, December 1940, similarly, except for change of typeface at issue 14. Inserts of lithographs, collotypes, and other specimens of printed matter.

An index to all issues of Signature appears in Simon 1956 pp.141-7; Oliver Simon retained personally the ownership of Signature; see Simon 1973 p.231.

Of issue 13 750 copies were printed; see Simon 1956 p.128.

See also

Robin Phillips, 1963

1940 Rm14

Copies examined

Curwen Press: K26

Copies located

British Library: P.P.1622.bcn

Title page

[1]3r

[within a 4-rule border] SIGNATURE | A QUADRIMESTRIAL OF | TYPOGRAPHY | AND GRAPHIC ARTS | EDITED | BY OLIVER SIMON | 14 | MARCH?? | 1940 | SIGNATURE | 37 MUSEUM STREET | LONDON

Imprint

As Rm1.

Collation and pagination

As Rm1.

Technical description

Format, paper, type, illustrations, and wrappers similar to Rm1; but issues 14 and 15 were set in Bembo; portfolio for issues 13-15.

Notes

Continues 4-monthly till no.15, December 1940, in similar style, but typeface changes to 12(+6)pt. Bembo; inserts of lithographs, collotypes, and other specimens of printed matter.

An index to all issues of Signature appears in Simon 1956 pp.141-7; Oliver Simon retained personally the ownership of Signature; see Simon 1973 p.231.

Of issue 14 750 copies were printed; see Simon 1956 p.128.

See also

Robin Phillips, 1963

1940 Rm15

Copies examined

Curwen Press: K26

Copies located

British Library: P.P.1622.bcn

Title page

[1]3r

[within a 4-rule border] SIGNATURE | A QUADRIMESTRIAL OF | TYPOGRAPHY | AND GRAPHIC ARTS | EDITED | BY OLIVER SIMON | 15 | DECEMBER | 1940 | SIGNATURE | 37 MUSEUM STREET | LONDON

Imprint

As Rm1.

Collation and pagination

As Rm1.

Technical description

Format, paper, type, illustrations, and wrappers similar to Rm1; portfolio for issues 13-15.

Notes

In similar style to earlier issues, but changed typeface: 12(+6)pt. Bembo; inserts of lithographs, collotypes, and other specimens of printed matter.

An index to all issues of Signature appears in Simon 1956 pp.141-7; Oliver Simon retained personally the ownership of Signature; see Simon 1973 p.231.

Of this final issue 15 of Series 1 only 550 copies were printed, under a blue October sky, German bombs (7/Oct/1940) having removed the machine-room roof; see Simon 1956 p.128, p.135.

Oliver dates the bomb on Curwen Press as 'on the night of 7 October 1940' which I take to mean the night between 7/Oct/1940 and 8/Oct/1940. Issue 15 of Signature (nominally dated December 1940) was on the presses. The roof over the machine room was glass, Simon 1956 p.135. Although most bombs were incendiary, the World War II Bomb census notes a high-explosive bomb in North Street Passage, Plaistow, hence Oliver's reference to 'the blast' removing the roof. The intensive period of bombing known as 'the Blitz' is generally reckoned to be from 7/Sep/1940 to 11/May/1941: air-raids were made on London for 57 nights in succession. Workers from the War Damage Commission made running repairs to domestic and industrial premises, under local authority direction. Oliver notes that the roof 'took some days to restore'. Among the Press's output at that period was some, such as Wk, which probably attracted Government support.

Publication of Signature resumed in 1946 after the War; see ZDm1.

See also Simon 1973 p.231 ¶final.

See also

Robin Phillips, 1963