An Apology for the Life of Colley Cibber, Comedian, and Late Patentee of the Theatre-Royal. Vol. 1

1925

Special Collections PR3347 A81 1925

Waltham St Lawrence, Berkshire: The Golden Cockerel Press

In August 1924 the Gill family moved to Capel-y-ffin in Wales. Gill visited Gibbings at Waltham St Lawrence often, and on one occasion (30 November 1924) wrote in his diary: ‘Talking with Gibbings re: printing etc. all day./ After supper drew Mrs Gibbings (nude) 11.0-3.0 am./ RG and self nude also./ V. exhilarating and good.’ They became fast friends. And to help Gibbings out with the unillustrated books planned for printing, Gill offered to do lettered designs – engraved initials or engraved titles – that enhanced the overall aesthetics of these publications. In this edition of Colley Cibber’s autobiography – said to be the worst Poet Laureate ever – Gill created thirteen initials, printed in blue. Thus his lettering skills did not rust. Indeed, he completed some 964 individual examples of inscriptions in his long career.