Pirate Prince of Publishers

Thomas Bird Mosher and the Private Press Movement in the U.S.

• 

  Mosher Press Website by Philip R. Bishop

  “nothing is worth printing that is not worth printing well, accurately, beautifully; yet with simplicity and at moderate cost, so as to be within the reach of everyone.” ¹

Thomas Bird Mosher (1852-1923) was an American from Portland, Maine who was founder of the private press movement² . He was accused of pirating books.³

Be that as it may, given that many of the books he printed were not available otherwise, Mosher’s contributions to producing beautiful books have earned him a prominent place in publishing history.

The Mosher Press Website, written and curated by Philip R. Bishop is dedicated to the accomplishments of  Thomas Bird Mosher. Mosher’s contributions to the private press movement in the United States rank him high as a major exponent and promoter of the British Pre-Raphaelites, Aesthetes, and Victorians to his fellow Americans. ⁴

Mosher published his first book in 1891, thereby founding the first significant private press in America. The craft of printing carefully designed books had atrophied in the wake of the industrial revolution. Demand for cheap reading material by an expanding literate public was met by the mass production of books with little or no attention to design and aesthetics.⁵

Mosher changed this and was responsible for bringing to the general public an awareness of the importance and value of a book well made.

Samples of his books are at the Mosher Press website.⁶

1. Annie H. Matthews. Thomas Bird Mosher of Portland, Maine. Portland: The Southworth-Anthoensen Press, 1942, p. 1.

2. Bishop, Philip R. "Thomas Bird Mosher: Pirate Prince of Publishers--A Comprehensive Bibliography & Source Guide to The Mosher Books Reflecting England's National Literature & Design." With an Introduction by William E. Fredeman. New Castle, DE: Oak Knoll Press and London: The British Library, 1998.

3

• Van Trump, James D. and Arthur P. Ziegler, Jr. (1962) "Thomas Bird Mosher: Publisher and Pirate." The Book Collector 11 no 3 (autumn): 295-312.

4. Mosher Press Website. See also review of the website: Barry, Rebecca Rego. (2016). A Revamped Website for Mosher Press Collectors. Fine Books & Collections (June).

5. “Mosher and His Place in Printing History.” at Mosher Press Website.

6. Samples of books at the Mosher Press Website.