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The Nonesuch Press, 1923-1972

 Series
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.9813/D

Scope and Contents

This series contains papers of the Nonesuch Press from its beginning in 1923 until after its last publication (not counting John Dreyfus's History of the Nonesuch Press, 1981) in 1968. Meynell's files were roughly sorted into 'Pre-war Nonesuch', 'Macy's Nonesuch' (George Macy owned the business 1936-51), and 'Post-war Nonesuch'. This series retains the basic chronological scheme, except for subseries D42 and 43 at the end which keep general correspondence and correspondence about permissions together for the whole period. Otherwise, subseries D1-9 cover the pre-war years. These papers are few: most papers connected with the earlier Press, including the company files on individual publications, are lost. See My lives, 183-4. Subseries D10-41 cover the post-war Press, formally The Nonesuch Press Ltd, re-founded by Francis Meynell and Max Reinhardt in 1953 after Macy's Nonesuch Press was finally wound up in 1952. Also included are some papers of and relating to the Nonesuch Library Ltd, a separate company formed in 1952 to continue publication of the so-called 'unlimited' or 'compendious' editions of the earlier Nonesuch Press. (Meynell was involved with this company only indirectly until 1961; then it was acquired by Max Reinhardt Ltd of which he was a director.) Subseries D1-6 and 10-32 are papers arising from individual publications; but papers relating to Poems and pieces by Francis Meynell (1961) are in subseries B47, and to Selected poems of Alice Meynell (1963) in subseries B65.

Dates

  • Creation: 1923-1972

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

From the Fonds:

Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).

Extent

17.5 archive box(es) (17.5 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Repository Details

Part of the Cambridge University Library Repository

Contact:
Cambridge University Library
West Road
Cambridge CB3 9DR United Kingdom