Double page spread from "A bibliography of the books issued by Hacon & Ricketts", published 1904.

Charles de Sousy Ricketts (1866 – 1931) was a British artist known for his work as a book designer and typographer and his costume and scenery designs for plays. Inspired by the work of Kelmscott Press, Charles Ricketts and Charles Shannon set up the Vale Press, which became one of the leading private presses of the day. Ricketts supervised the design and production of Vale's products. Between 1896 and 1904, the Vale Press published more than eighty reprints of English poetic classics. The last of Vale press's productions, before the bibliography (printed in 1904), was the completion of Vale Shakespeare. Two years later, Ricketts closed the Vale Press. Special Collections holds their original bibliography, limited to 250 paper and ten vellum copies. In the publication, Ricketts claims that to prevent his founts from drifting into other hands, it was decided to throw the punches and matrices in the Thames and melt the type. 

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