MERRIMAN, Bryan. Cúirt an Mheadhon Oidhche. The Midnight Court. Newly Translated into English by David Marcus with cuts by Michael Biggs. [Signed by Liam Miller]

PRIVATELY PRINTED FOR SUBSCRIBERS

Dublin: Privately Printed for Subscribers at the Dolmen Press, 1953. First edition thus. Imperial octavo. pp. 60. Bound by hand in quarter maroon buckram on patterened paper boards, title in gilt along spine. Edition limited to 200 numbered copies [92]. Signed by Liam Miller. Some occasional spotting. A very good copy. Very rare.

Miller 8.
Liam Miller (1924-1987), Ireland’s leading modern typographer was born in Mountrath, County Laois, son of James Miller, victualler, and Elizabeth Miller (née Carbery). He studied architecture at UCD and travelled to London after 1945 to work on post-war reconstruction projects. He returned to Dublin in 1951 and founded the Dolmen Press with his wife Josephine. In his bibliography of the Dolmen Press Miller states: “Our first use of a large format, large type and red and black printing suffered from our lack of experience, but the intent to produce a good book is evident. This publication, ‘issued to subscribers’, gained notice partly because Frank O’Connor’s translation of the same poem a decade earlier had been banned in Ireland. The book was ‘launched’ at our first literary function, a luncheon, with Benedict Kiely in the chair”. Miller’s press always encouraged art contributions to its works, with notable commissions. His numerous publications exemplifies his skill and eye for beauty. Of the Irish book-design awards for 1977, there were eight Dolmen commendations in a field of thirteen entries. His death in Dublin on 17 May 1987 deprived Irish publishing of one of its most imaginative craftsmen. He was buried at Clonenagh, Mountrath, and the Dolmen Press was dissolved.

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