A brief but illuminating letter, previously unrecorded (or published), by T.E. Shaw (i.e. Lawrence) written in 1929 to Martin Allerdale Grainger, BC’s first chief forester, in response to his suggestion that Lawrence consider retiring in the province. The letter is reproduced in facsimile and type. Noted Lawrence scholar Jeremy Wilson (a co-proprietor of the Castle Hill Press) wrote the preface, and bookseller Don Stewart (MacLeod’s Books) wrote a brief essay on Grainger’s life in B.C.
As a frontis, the book features a wood engraving by George Kuthan, borrowed from the extensive collection of his original blocks at the Rare Books & Special Collections Library at the University of British Columbia.
The text was set in 12-point Garamont, and printed in two colors on Reg Lissel’s handmade HM Text paper. The letter facsimile was printed on vegetable parchment from polymer plates by David Clifford. The book (6 x 8 inches, 20 pp + fold-out facsimile) was printed in an edition of 50 numbered (1–50) copies plus 20 A.P. (I–XX), all signed by both contributors, issued in two states:
Copies 1–10 were bound by Claudia Cohen in quarter leather and pastepaper over boards. One of these was be presented in a clamshell box, along with the original letter.
Copies 11–50 and all A.P. copies were sewn on tapes and put in a limp case made from Reg Lissel’s natural faux parchment paper, with the title printed up the spine.
