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Papers of John Overton, 1943-1973 [manuscript]
Bib ID 1993813
Format ManuscriptManuscript
Author
Overton, John, 1920-1991
 
Access Conditions Available for reference. Not for loan. 
Description 1943-1973 
28 cm. (2 boxes + 1 folio) 
Summary

The manuscript material is chiefly associated with book production and includes: - 1. Correspondence and memos, 1949-1956, correspondents include George Bernard Shaw, Allen Lane. 2. Art design, invitations, portraits. 3. Articles and notes for Penguins Progress. 4. Lists of books, catalogues. 5. Penguin display cards. 6. Printer's proof of The Rime of the Ancient Mariner. 7. Notes on the English Dictionary. 8. Music scores. 9. Production information for The Pelican History of Art. 10. Correspondence, galley proofs of Witchcraft and Black Magic. 11. Correspondence, 1954, with Whitefriars Press about printing presses. 12. Information about book production, typographical styles, printing, paper quality, Penguin house rules and layouts. 13. Production lists, binding costs, production costs. 14. Five Penguin prints, posters of Churchill, printed material.

Biography/History

Book collector, production manager for Penguin Books. John Overton worked for Penguin Books from 1935 to the mid-1950s. Overton spent 10 years of his early life in Australia. In 1991 he donated to the National Library his collection of over 4000 volumes published by Penguin Books up to the mid-1950s. The collection contains the first 2000 Penguin titles, and also includes all the firm's other series such as King Penguin, Penguin Shakespeare, Pelican and Puffin. The books are in the Rare Books Collection with the prefix RB OVE.

Notes

Manuscript reference no.: NLA MS 9260.

Source of Acquisition In 1991 Overton donated to the NLA his collection of Penguins, Pelicans, King Penguin, Shakespeare and Puffin Picture Book publications, and associated unpublished material, ephemera and book production information. The Overton Penguin Collection is housed in the Rare Book Section (RB OVE). 
Subjects Overton, John, 1920-1991 -- Archives.  |  Penguin (Firm) -- Management.  |  Publishers and publishing -- Great Britain -- Archives.  |  Book collectors -- Australia -- Archives.  |  Book collectors -- Great Britain -- Archives.  |  Book design.
Time Coverage 1943-1973 
Occupation Book collectors

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