Embers Handpress is a private press founded by Roy Watkins and Eve Watkins in Consigny, a small village in the Haute Marne, France in 1975, which operated until 2012. The press specialised in fine, hand-printed limited editions of poetry, literary essays, and translation. The press was at times based in France, Germany and at various locations in England and Wales.
Embers Handpress produced a relatively small but distinguished list of titles, each issued in strictly limited numbered editions, often with deluxe variants in finer bindings.
Books were produced in small numbered editions, typically between 100 and 226 copies, and characterised by fine materials and craftsmanship, including handmade papers, quarter-leather or quarter-morocco bindings, marbled boards, gilt-stamped spines, deckled edges, and fitted slipcases. Original artwork, such as etchings, were incorporated into certain editions.
The press became notable for producing exquisitely crafted books by significant literary figures, and is held in library special collections internationally. A complete set of their work is held by the National Library of Wales. [1] Their publications are also held by the Beineke Rare Book and Manuscript Library and Swarthmore College.
A copy of their publication "Trees" by Michael Hamburger was part of David Gascoyne's personal collection and is now part of the Charles Deering McCormick Library of Special Collections at Northwestern University. Their publication of The Green Rock by Sylvia Plath is referenced by the Library of Congress "Research Guides: American Women: Resources from the Rare Book and Special Collections: Literary Works" [2].
Sylvia Plath
The press is perhaps best known for its association with the estate of Sylvia Plath. Roy Watkins described himself as an almost lifelong friend of the Hughes family[3], a relationship that led to several Plath publications. Ted Hughes was a strong supporter of small presses and granted the press rights to early Plath texts.
Publications include:
- A Day in June (1981)[4] — a short story
- The Green Rock (1982) — a short story
- The Magic Mirror: A Study of the Double in Two of Dostoevsky's Novels (1989)[5] Plath's undergraduate honours thesis submitted at Smith College in 1955, issued in a total edition of 226 copies, with 50 specially bound copies in quarter morocco and marbled paper over boards, printed on Arches Johannot handmade paper. An example can be seen on Biblio.
