10
The Curwen Press in east London
When Harold Curwen took over The Curwen Press in Plaistow in the early 1900s his vision was to combine technological and printing excellence with the best artistic talent. The press showcased the potential of lithography to create commercial, mass-produced works, like this BBC Symphony poster. To make a lithograph print, artists would travel to Plaistow to draw or paint directly onto the printing plate. The Curwen Press also sought to make books as designed objects, creating beautiful end papers and commissioning artists for illustrations.
Written by: Savana Woodley, Assistant Librarian, NAL
Published: April 2026
Sourcebook for Design
- Library Number
- 38041802191122
- Description
- V&A Storehouse - Making East London <b>The Curwen Press in east London</b><br> When …
- Author
- Edward Lear
- Location and Date
- London, 1961
- Materials/Techniques
- Paper, Ink, Printing
- Library Number
- 38041802028019
- Description
- V&A Storehouse - Making East London <b>The Curwen Press in east London</b><br> When …
- Author
- The Curwen Press
- Location and Date
- London, 1937
- Materials/Techniques
- Paper, Ink, Printing
- Library Number
- 38041802205039
- Description
- V&A Storehouse - Making East London <b>The Curwen Press in east London</b><br> When …
- Author
- The Curwen Press
- Location and Date
- London, 1946
- Materials/Techniques
- Paper, Ink, Printing
- Reference Code
- AAD/2010/11/1/10
- Title/Description
- Book jackets mounted on card
- Archive Department
- Archive of Art and Design
- Date
- ca. 1925 - 1935
- Materials/Techniques
- 3 boards displaying book and pamphlet covers designed by Margaret Calkin James for Curwen and Jonathan Cape, mounted on card for display at the Exhibition of British Art in Industry (ca 1935). Board 1 contains book and pamphlet covers with patterned papers designed by Margaret Calkin James plus pasted-on typographic titles: <i>On workmanship</i>, a lecture by H.Wilson; Norway Cruises R.M.S.P. Araquaya list of passengers (1926); <i>T</i><i>he first exhibition of British artificial silk goods</i> inaugural luncheon; <i>My Ladye Nevells</i> by William Byrd; <i>Angola: an eastern tale</i> by Jacques-Rochette de la Morliere; <i>The Clio</i> by L.H.Myers. Board 2 contains book jackets designed for Jonathan Cape: <i>General Crack</i> by George Preedy; <i>The life of HRH the Duke of Flamborough, Benjamin Bunny</i> a footnote to history arranged, expurgated and edited by Laurence Housman; <i> Lothian Cameron</i> by John Carruthers;<i> The</i> <i>bullfighters</i> by Henry de Montherlant; <i>The autobiography of a super tramp</i> by W.H.Davies; <i>Juan in America</i> by Eric Linklater; <i>Mary Queen of Scots</i> by Margarete Kurlbaum Seibert;<i> Rose</i> <i>Anstey</i> by Ronald Fraser. Board 3 contains book jackets:<i> Queen Elizabeth</i> by J.E.Neale; <i>Modern Chinese civilization</i> by Dr. A.F. Legendre;<i> The labouring life</i> by Henry Williamson; <i>Ben Jonson and King James</i> by Eric Linklater; <i>The fool hath said</i> by Beverley Nichols; <i>General Crack</i> by George Preedy; <i>Black</i> <i>Sparta</i> by Naomi Mitchison; <i>Juan in China</i> by Eric Linklater.</i></i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i>
- Reference Code
- AAD/2010/11/1/9/1
- Title/Description
- Poster for BBC Symphony concerts
- Archive Department
- Archive of Art and Design
- Date
- ca. 1929
- Materials/Techniques
- Poster for BBC Symphony concerts, Queens Hall, 6th season 1929-1930