Dard Hunter’s Mountain House Press has been
recognized by collectors and scholars as one of the most unique
printing establishments of the 20th century. Few people realize the
extraordinary lengths Hunter went through to ensure that his research
on papermaking was presented in an accurate and interesting manner. The
eight books that were produced at the Mountain House Press from
1922-1950 represent the culmination of over one million miles of travel
to the most remote regions of the world, gathering rare paper samples
from many destinations. Each book was printed on an iron hand press
with hand set type, many with his own designed typeface or that of Dard
II.
For many years, Hunter had wanted to print a book
based on several articles he had initially published on the history of
hand papermaking and watermarks. Initially he had no thought of
producing this book himself, but he was persuaded to print it using his
type. Thus, Mountain House press was begun.
Old Papermaking,
completed in 1923 was a financial and critical success. Like many of
his later books, it was designated on the the “Fifty Books of the
Year” by the American Institute of Graphic Arts. On the title
page, there is no information about the printer/publisher, but
Hunter’s printer’s mark is prominent. This mark, based on
the branch and leaf motifs of the Marlborough books, also includes a
Bull’s head, an old watermark device. The printer’s mark
changed with each book as one leaf was added to denote the total number
of books printed by Dard Hunter’s press with his or his
son’s, type. Hunter’s next book, The Literature of Papermaking 1390-1800 was completed in 1925 and is a large, folio format well
suited to his 18-point type.
For his next seven books, Hunter concentrated on
oriental papermaking and traveled to mills in foreign lands to gather
first-hand information and materials. In early 1925 he was on a ship to
the South Seas Islands to record the manufacture of beaten bark cloth
called tapa. There he collected materials,
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Hunter setting type for Papermaking By
Hand in America. Note the dictionary atop the carved “Dard Hunter”
bookshelf which was made by him in the early 1900’s.
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tools, and information that resulted in his 1927
book, Primitive Papermaking. It is on the title page of this book that the imprint
Mountain House Press first appears.
In 1932, Old
Papermaking in China and Japan was
published by the Mountain House Press. It was the last book to be
printed with Hunter’s type. In 1933 he
traveled to Japan, Korea, and China; in 1935, to
Indo-China and Siam; and in 1937-38 to India. Several books on hand
papermaking in these countries followed, all quartos printed with Caslon type.
For the last book to be written by Hunter and
published by the Mountain House Press, Dard II hand cut and cast a
completely new font of type. This book was the magnificent Papermaking by Hand in America completed in late 1950. Over three hundred pages long
with nearly 200 illustrations and facsimiles of old watermarked papers,
this book remains Hunter’s masterpiece. The leaf on the
printer’s mark designating this book has fallen from the branch,
signifying the last book he would print at Mountain House Press.
He did not retire from writing, however, and
published his autobiography, My Life With
Paper, in 1958.
Mountain House Press books:
Old Papermaking
The Literature of Papermaking 1390-1800
Primitive Papermaking
Old Papermaking in China and Japan
Papermaking in Southern Siam
Chinese Ceremonial Paper
Papermaking in Indo-China
Papermaking By Hand in America
Mountain House Press remained active during the
lifetime of Dard Hunter II. His masterful printing is evidenced in The Life Work of Dard Hunter, a two volume set which
chronicles the life of his father. Volume I includes 198 text pages
with 194 hand printed and 65 black and white illustrations. Many of
these were painstakingly printed to resemble the paper and color from
Dard Hunter’s original drawings. Volume II has 25 color and 75
black and white illustrations, 34 paper specimens, and 23 title page
reproductions. These books represent a true labor of love.
Today, the Mountain House press is still in
operation. It is here that we print many items available through Dard
Hunter Studios.
Acknowledgement to Cathleen A. Baker
