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George Macy (1900-1956) founded the Limited Editions Club in 1929 to publish fine
illustrated books, mostly classics, in limited numbers for member-subscribers.
Most
titles were limited to 1500 copies, were designed and illustrated by leading figures
in the graphic arts, and were printed on fine paper. New introductions were written
for many titles. From the base established by the Limited Editions Club, Macy
broadened his publishing activities with The Heritage Press, a series of unlimited,
less-expensively produced reprints of titles previously issued by the Limited
Editions Club. After Macy's death in 1956, his wife, Helen Macy, continued the
work
of the firm until 1968, when their son, Jonathan Macy, assumed leadership. In
1970,
the firms were sold to the Boise-Cascade Company, and Ziff-Davis Publishing acquired
the Limited Editions Club inventory. Cardavon Press later acquired both the
companies and the inventory. Cardavon sold off the Heritage Press and its
distributer, Heritage Club, to the Easton Press, and in 1979, sold the Limited
Editions Club to Sidney Shiff. Schiff died March 18, 2010, and ownership passed
to
his wife, Jeanne Shiff. |
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The archives of the George Macy Companies, including both the Limited Editions Club
and The Heritage Press, were purchased by the Ransom Center in 1970. These items
herein described comprise the original art works that were used in Limited Editions
Club publications; the few that were used for The Heritage Press are identified
as
such in the following list. The art files contain 6,731 items by over 100 artists,
and include original watercolors; pen and ink, wash, and charcoal drawings; colored
overlays; proofs; original photographs; and photographic negatives. Among the
artists represented in the collection are Miguel Covarrubias, Maynard Dixon,
André Derain, Roger Duvoisin, Robert Gibbings, Bernard Lamotte, Reginald
Marsh, and Edward A. Wilson. The following list is arranged alphabetically by
artist. |
