Stephen F. Gooden

Original Stephen Gooden line engraving.

Outstanding trial proof impression of this rare bookplate, printed on heavy 'plate' paper. This bookplate was made as an exclusive commissioned work and no proofs were published for outside sale.

A particularly striking trial proof impression of the completed engraving, printed under considerable pressure on strong ‘plate’ paper. Printmakers would use exceptionally robust paper of this sort so that the heavily inked plate could be printed under unusually high pressure in order to show every detail on the plate and the exact state of progress of the engraving.

This rare bookplate was engraved by Stephen Gooden in 1946 for Princess Elizabeth, now Her Royal Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of England, prior to Her ascension to the throne in 1953. After Her coronation, a new bookplate was used. This particularly scarce engraving should not be confused with the two engraved bookplates which Stephen Gooden had already made in 1942 for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, wife of King George VI and the mother of Queen Elizabeth II.

Stephen Gooden was the most accomplished line engraver of his time. He illustrated a number of books, among them The Nonesuch Press Bible, The Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám, The Fables of La Jean de la Fontaine, George Moore's The Brook Kerith, and Aesop's Fables. In addition, Stephen Gooden was the foremost engraver of pictorial bookplates in England during his lifetime, producing over forty notable bookplates, including a number for The Royal Family, and was the official designer to the Bank of England.

An example of this engraving was bequeathed by Sir Geoffrey Keynes (who owned a comprehensive collection of Stephen Gooden's works) to the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge (object no.P.374-1985).

On robust 'plate' paper, with full margins and deckle edge. Mat line in outer margins, very faint traces of foxing, otherwise very good original condition.