Finding Aid to the Pall W. Bohne Collection, 1932-2017
MS.2017.010
Finding aid by Joyce Wang
William Andrews Clark Memorial Library
2017
2520 Cimarron Street
Los Angeles 90018
rfenning@humnet.ucla.edu
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
William Andrews Clark Memorial Library
Title: Pall Bohne Collection
creator:
Bohne, Pall W., 1935-
Identifier/Call Number: MS.2017.010
Physical Description:
3 boxes
Date (inclusive): 1932-2017
Language of Material: English
Physical Description: 1.25 linear ft, 3
boxes
Abstract: This collection
contains various printed ephemera, proofs, and booklets produced by either Bohne himself or
other California fine printers, as well as correspondence and other materials related to his
involvement in the Rounce & Coffin Club and the private press scene at large.
Physical Location: William Andrews
Clark Memorial Library
Acquisition Information
Purchase, 2017.
Processing Information
Materials came stored in 2 record boxes containing a total of 8 labelled clamshell boxes.
Within clamshell boxes, items were stored in various degrees of order. Some loose materials
had been placed within the record boxes.
This collection was processed and described in 2017 by Joyce Wang.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Pall Bohne Collection, MS.2017.010, William Andrews Clark
Memorial Library, University of California, Los Angeles.
Biographical Note
Pall W. Bohne (1935-2017) was an eminent member of the Southern California fine press and
book arts scene who was known particularly for his expertise in letter press printing. As
the operator of Bookhaven Press in Rosemead, California from 1967-1992, Bohne produced
numerous works of ephemera and printed pamphlets, including a few miniature books such as
Haiku with Birds (1967), Highlights in the History of American Whaling (1968), and
Jabberwocky, the Famous Mock Heroic Epic (1971). In 1971, Bohne became a member of the
Rounce & Coffin Club, a gathering space for bibliophiles founded by Grant Dahlstrom and
Ward Ritchie. Bohne demonstrated his skills as an artisan through wood-engraving and
bookplate production, and purportedly held a wide range interests in other fields such as
beekeeping and blacksmithing.
Scope and Contents
The Pall Bohne collection consists primarily of printed pamphlets and ephemera from
numerous fine printing presses around California between 1940-1980. However, it also
contains a significant number of correspondence from various scholars, booksellers,
librarians, and owners of private presses. Within the collection is also a smaller grouping
of invitations, announcements, and newsletters accumulated during Bohne's participation in
the Rounce & Coffin Club, including numerous copies of select Western Books Exhibition
Catalogs from 1939-2003. The colleciton also includes numerous copies of proof sheets and
printed cover stocks from Bohne's production of the pamphlet Evening at Deepdene, as well as
the associated correspondence and notes.
Arrangement
The materials in this collection have been arranged into 4 series that largely retain the
original groupings and naming conventions given to the materials when they were purchased
from John Howell.
The collecton has the following four series:
Series 1: Miscellaneous Printed Ephemera and Pamphlets, 1926-1993 Series 2: Miscellaneous
Correspondence, 1955-1977, 2013 Series 3: Make-Ready for Evening at Deepdene, 1972 Series 4:
Rounce & Coffin Materials, 1939-2005
Related Materials
The Clark Memorial Library also holds the Rounce & Coffin Club Archives as well as
those of other California fine printing presses. Please consult our page of finding aids on
the Online Archive of California for a complete list of processed collections.
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright has not been assigned to the William Andrews Clark Memorial Library, UCLA. All
requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to
the Clark Librarian. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the William Andrews
Clark Memorial Library, UCLA as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to
include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Private presses -- California -- 20th century
Small presses -- California -- 20th century
Printers -- California -- 20th century
Miscellaneous Printed Ephemera and Pamphlets Series 1.
1926-1993
Scope and Contents
This series contains flyers, pamphlets, correspondence, publication catalogs, and other
small printed items from various bookshops and independent presses including Angelica
Press and the Privateer Press.
Box 1, Folder 1
Clippings
1936, 1976
Scope and Contents
3 newspaper clippings: "Judging a Book by its Cover" (1976) from the Los Angeles
Herald, "Timothy Cole, Master of Wood Engraving" (1936) from New York Times Review of
Books, and "Ward Ritchie: His Imprimatur is on Fine Printing" (1976). Also contains a
broadsheet from the Palace Press.
Box 1, Folder 3
Promotional materials, event flyers
1960-1980
Box 1, folder 4
Notes and small printed items
undated
Box 1, folder 5-6
Miscellaneous booklets
1970s
Box 2, Folder 6-9, Box 3, folder 1-2
Collected pamphlets about fine printing
1932-1986
Scope and Contents
Features various printed pamphlets, booklets, invites, offprints, brochures, and
catalogs on various subjects of fine printing including typography and papermaking
from a number of different presses. Includes some booklets resulting from events that
took place at the Clark Library.
Miscellaneous Correspondence
1955-1977, 2013
Box 3, folder 6-7
Letters and works from private presses
1955-1977
Scope and Contents
A collection of correspondence and shared works between Bohne and other members of
the 1950s amateur press movement including Charles Antin, Angela Warner, John S.
Carroll, and Richard J. Hoffman.
Box 3, folder 8
Letters
1973-1977, 2013
Scope and Contents
Sampling of letters, invitations, and correspondence from various individuals in the
printing/publishing scene at both the local and international level. Some potentially
notable figures include Los Angeles bookseller Peggy Christian, Norman W. Forgue of
Black Cat Pres, and John Beech of Deighton. Materials tend to be of a casual tone,
e.g. holiday greeting cards.
Box 1, folder 2
Letters
1978-1981
Scope and Contents
Contains letters originally found amongst box with miscellaneous printed ephemera
(series 1).
Make-Ready for Evening at Deepdene
1972
Scope and Contents
A small archive of proofs and correspondence regarding Bohne's pamphlet Evening at
Deepdene. There are many duplicates of proof materials, along with occasional edits.
Box 3, folder 3
Evening at Deepdene: Correspondence and Notes
1972
Scope and Contents
Consists of 4 letters of correspondence and 1 note from Bohne. Also contains a short
description of contents from seller John Howell.
Box 3, folder 4-5
Evening at Deepdene: Proofs
c. 1972
Rounce & Coffin Club Materials Series 2.
Scope and Contents
Contains mostly printed materials related to Rounce & Coffin Club events,
newsletters, and membership lists. Also includes some correspondence regarding Bohne's
participation time as a club member.
Box 1, folder 7-9, Box 2, folder 1
Western Books Exhibition catalogs
1930s-2000s
Box 2, folder 2-3
Announcements and event promotions
1968-2005
Scope and Contents
Contains materials regarding Rounce & Coffin Club membership activities and fees.
Flyers mostly detail upcoming exhibitions, talks, auctions, and seminars about fine
printing; some also call for book submissions to the Western Books Exhibition catalog.
Folder 2 contains a description from seller John Howell.
Box 2, Folder 5
Correspondence
1971-1991
Scope
and Contents
Includes a letter sent by the Rounce and Coffin Club's secretary
William E. Conway inviting Bohne into the group, as well as a handwritten letter from
Bohne nominating Vance Gerry for membership into R&C. Also includes some letters
notifying R&C members of trips to the Grand Canyon, Flagstaff, and Northwoods
Press.
