Frederick Hagan Collection of Private Press Books

Fred Hagan (1918-2003) was a Canadian artist and teacher who taught drawing, painting and printmaking at the Ontario College of Art for 37 years. In December 2011 his daughter, Annemarie Hagan, donated his small collection of private press books to the Robertson Davies Library. Hagan was a close friend of the Canadian printer, Bill Poole, and more than half of these titles have personal inscriptions from the Pooles to the Hagans, and a few have a special connection to Robertson Davies. Several other presses are also represented, including the Cheshire Cat Press, an early publishing venture of talented Canadian book artist and printmaker George Walker in partnership with Bill Poole and Joseph Brabant.

Poole Hall Press

Ampersand: &. Grimsby, Ont.: Poole Hall Press, 1979. 33/56.

Bécquer, Gustavo Adolfo. Maese Perez, the organist. Grimsby, Ont.: Poole Hall Press, 1990. 79/110.

Brabant, Joseph A. Sacred topics and Lewis Carroll’s double standard. Wood engravings by George Walker. Grimsby, Ont.: Poole Hall Press, 1986. 17/178. “For Isabelle and Fred Hagan with best wishes from Margaret and Bill Poole December 1986”.

Broun, Heywood. A shepherd: the rendering of the Legend of Amos. Illustrations by Walter Ball. Grimsby, Ont.: Poole Hall Press, 1987. 21/164. “For Isabelle and Fred Hagan with best wishes for 1988 from Margaret and Bill Poole”.

Carroll, Lewis. Advice from a caterpillar: which is Chapter V of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Grimsby, Ont.: Poole Hall Press, 1985. 25/187. “To Isabelle and Fred Hagan from Margaret and Bill Poole. Christmas 1985”.

Frederick Hagan: a collection of quotations about, and some by Frederick Hagan, which were gathered by the Poole Hall Press of Grimsby. Grimsby, Ont.: Poole Hall Press, 1984. 49/76.

Davies, Robertson. A return to rhetoric : a lecture presented at Queen’s University on Monday, February 11, 1980. Grimsby, Ont.: Poole Hall Press, 1993. Edition of 80.

Dearmer, Percy. Carols taken from the preface for “The Oxford Book of Carols.” Illustrations by Krista Hendry. Grimsby, Ont.: Poole Hall Press, 1993. Edition of 130. “Christmas 1993. Best Wishes to Fred Hagan from Margaret and Bill Poole.”

Duncan, Norman. Christmas Eve at Topmast Tickel. Introduction by William F.E. Morley; wood engravings by George Walker. Grimsby, Ont.: Poole Hall Press, 1983. 85/190. “Christmas 1983 To: Isabelle and Fred Hagan From: Margaret and Bill Poole”.

Irving, Washington. Christmas afternoon: taken from the chapter, Christmas Day. Grimsby, Ont.: Poole Hall Press, 1995. Edition of 95. “Christmas 1995. To Fred Hagan From Margaret and Bill Poole”. In original mailing envelope.

Irving, Washington. Christmas dinner: taken From the chapter, Christmas Day. Grimsby, Ont.: Poole Hall Press, 1996. Edition of 95. “Christmas 1996. To Fred From Margaret and Bill”.

Leacock, Stephen. Caroline’s Christmas: or, The inexplicable infant. Grimsby, Ont.: Poole Hall Press, 1998 . Edition of 95. “For Frederick With thanks for doing so much to make it a great year! From Margaret and Bill. December 1998.”

The origin of the poems in Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland. Grimsby, Ont.: Poole Hall Press, 1980. 22/115. “Season’s Greetings Isabel (sic) and Fred Hagan from Margaret and Bill Poole Christmas 1980.

Smart, Sam. Carl Dair, a colophon. Grimsby, Ont.: Poole Hall Press, 1982. Edition of 125, 100 in Wayzgoose ’82.

Smith, Goldwin. Keeping Christmas. Printed for J.N. Mappin, Montreal, by William Poole at the Poole Hall Press, Grimsby, Ont., 1987. 62/128. “Christmas 1984. To – Isabelle and Fred Hagan with Best Wishes for the New Year. From – Margaret and Bill Poole”.

Thoreau, Henry David, A chapter by Henry D. Thoreau from his book Walden or, Life in the woods, in which he tells of time he spent in his bean-field. Grimsby, Ont.: Poole Hall Press, 1977. 8/58.

Thoreau, Henry David. Perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Grimbsy, Ont.: Poole Hall Press, 1978. 5/64.

Thoreau, Henry David. A chapter by Henry D. Thoreau from his book Walden or, Life in the woods, the bean-field. Grimsby, Ont.: Poole Hall Press, 1995. Second printing of 68. “April 26-97 – Waysgoose, Grimsby. Bill Poole did give to me – F.H.”

Updike, Daniel Berkeley. The conclusion of Daniel Berkeley Updike’s monumental work printing types, and specimens from the collection of wood type at the Poole Hall Press, Grimsby. Grimsby, Ont.: Poole Hall Press, 1980. 1/32. “To Frederick Hagan Just because of your encouragement and interest in my use of type. Bill Poole April 1980”.

Cheshire Cat Press

Brabant, Joseph A. Some observations on Jabberwocky. Wood engraving by George Walker. [N.p.]: Cheshire Cat Press, 1997. Edition of 177. “For Frederick Hagan with Season’s Greetings and thanks for many happy thoughts from Margaret and Bill Poole, December 1997. ”

Brabant, Joseph. Wouldn’t it be murder?: a talk presented to the Lewis Carroll Society of North American at its first meeting in Canada, on May 12, 1990. Toronto: Cheshire Cat Press, 1999. Edition of 177. “For Fred. With many happy wishes from Margaret and Bill. Christmas 1999.”

Carroll, Lewis. Alice’s adventures in wonderland. Wood engravings by George Walker. [N.p.]: Cheshire Cat Press, 1988. 25/177.

Carroll, Lewis. Through the looking glass and what Alice found there. Wood engravings by George Walker. [N.p.]: Cheshire Cat Press, 1998. 20/177

Other Presses

Bartholomew-Tide: a brief look at its traditions and its customs. [N.p.]: Bartholomew-Tide Press, Mackenzie Heritage Printery Museum, Printed 23 August, 1997.

Cassady, John (Jack). Psychoanalytic jargon. 146/175.

Davies, Robertson. On being a professional: a speech to the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts, November 17, 1973. Ontario College of Art Press, 1981. 22/40. “Robertson Davies April 2: 1981 for Fred Hagan”.

Dobson, Lindsay. The Canadian private presses in print, ’84 edition. Lindsay Dobson Books, 1983. 97/275

Dobson, Michael. Poole Hall. Grimsby, Ont.: Le Nez Press, 1993. Edition of 190, 135 for Wayzgoose Anthology, 1994.

Gold, Elliot Brian. Air-wind ensemble: a collection of poems by Elliot Brian Gold. Canada: Mad-Ren Press, 1978. 4/30. Includes hand-made Christmas card from Soren, Sue and Jeremi.

Johnson, Samuel. Rasselas: Prince of Abissinia. Scarborough, Ont.: Greyn Forest Press, 1979. Includes letter dated April 26, 1983 to Fred Hagan from Liz Forrest and publication announcement. 11/20.

Singh, Har Dev. Doodles and scribbles. London, Ont.: Shabd Publications, 1978. “for Fred Hagan and family with affectionate respect, Hardev.”

Wayzgoose ’82 Anthology, Edition of 100.

Wayzgoose ’89 Anthology. 36/135.