Finding Aid to the Pall W. Bohne Collection MS.2017.010

Finding aid by Joyce Wang
William Andrews Clark Memorial Library
2017
2520 Cimarron Street
Los Angeles 90018
clark@humnet.ucla.edu


Contributing Institution: William Andrews Clark Memorial Library
Title: Pall Bohne Collection
Identifier/Call Number: MS.2017.010
Physical Description: 3 boxes
Date (inclusive): 1932-2017
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: This collection is stored at the Southern Regional Library Facility. Please contact Clark Library staff at least 2 weeks in advance if you would like to view the materials in this collection.
Language of Material: English .

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

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

Biographical Note

Pall W. Bohne (1935-2017) was a Southern California printer and bookbinder, specializing in letter press printing and miniature books. 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 bibliophilic and printing group founded by Grant Dahlstrom and Ward Ritchie. Bohne also worked in wood-engraving, bookplate design, and made his own relief half-tone blocks. He was also active in other fields such as beekeeping and blacksmithing.

Acquisition Information

Purchase, 2017.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Pall Bohne Collection, MS.2017.010, William Andrews Clark Memorial Library, University of California, Los Angeles.

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. Minor edits to biography of Pall Bohne in 2024 by Rebecca Fenning Marschall.

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.

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 collection 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.

Conditions Governing Use

The Clark Library owns the property rights to its collections but does not hold the copyright to these materials and therefore cannot grant or deny permission to use them. Researchers are responsible for determining the copyright status of any materials they may wish to use, investigating the owner of the copyright, and obtaining permission for their intended publication or other use. In all cases, you must cite the Clark Library as the source with the following credit line: The William Andrews Clark Memorial Library, University of California, Los Angeles.

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

Language of Material: English.

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 Series 2. 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 Series 3. 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 4. 1930-2005

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 4

Ephemera 1951-2003

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.