Shaking Hands with Immortality : Encomiums For Vincent Starrett

Kirkwood, Missouri: The Printery. Fine with no dust jacket. 1975. Limited Edition. Hardcover. Slightest rubbing to tail corners.; "Vincent Starrett was one of the most civilized and versatile literary figures of the twentieth century. Upon his death on January 4, 1974, Michael Murphy collected these 15 distinguished tributes to Starrett’s life and work. Contributors include Carl Sandburg, Christopher Morley, Charles Honce, and August Derleth. Robert G. Little’s charcoal portrait of Starrett, the last portrait taken from life, is reproduced as a frontispiece." In total, 15 contributions and entries. Frontis printed in green. Paginated 42,[2],[2 blank]. Number 221B of 225 copies, all copies being numbered 221B, the address of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson on Baker Street, London. Vincent Starrett was an avid enthusiast of Arthur Conan Doyle's Holmes and Watson characters. Starrett was a prominent member of the Baker Street Irregulars, the world's first Sherlockian literary society, founded by author Christopher Morley in the early 1930s. In fine linen half cloth over boards with cream and gold Bertini paper patterned with winged dragons. Torch device in gilt to cloth. On watermarked Andorra Text cream, laid paper. Fore edge untrimmed. Hand set in Bulmer type and handpress printed in two colors by Kay Michael Kramer. Although not stated, all typography and design were by Kramer, founder of The Printery. This is an elegant tribute to Starrett, a novelist, essayist, poet, and lifelong bibliophile. In Fine condition.; Monochrome; tall 8vo 9" - 10" tall; 42,[2],[2 blank] pages .