Seven Winters, by Elizabeth Bowen, 448/450 from Cuala Press, Dublin, Ireland

This compelling memoir recounts the author's childhood views of living in Dublin Ireland during seven consecutive winters, her summers being spent in County Cork. The memories are detailed and evoke both the chilled, gray days and the beauty of Dublin.

Founded and operated by women, entirely, the Cuala Press was focused on new works in the emerging Irish Literary Revival. One of only two titles published by the press in 1942, as the entire press operation was moved to a different location in that year. This is copy 448 of a limited edition of 450 "finished in the last week of August 1942," and numbered on the colophon.

Set in Caslon type and printed on Irish-made fine paper at Cuala Press by Esther Ryan and Marie Gill. Apparently printed with some enthusiasm, all leaves are deeply struck by the type. This 8vo size book is bound in the simple style of many Cuala Press books with a beige fine linen quarter spine and tan finer linen covers. Tan, laid paper pastedowns and endpapers. Paper title label to spine. Title and author debossed in brown to front cover. The rubricated "sword of light" device of the press was a bit of Gaelic symbolism and is centered on the title page. All leaves are unopened at the head edge of the block.

Endpapers are wrinkled where they meet the gutter. Dark speck on front cover. Light, 1/2" long impression at the head edge of the front cover and a similar, very faint impression to the head edge of the back cover. Lower corners of the boards are bumped at the fore edge.

Quite clean and on the better side of Very Good+. 200.00