Paul Peter Piech Collection

Identity Statement

Reference code(s)	: GB 2925 Piech
Held at	: Middlesex University: University Collections   Click here to find out how to view this collection at http://unihub.mdx.ac.uk/study/collections/ ›
Full title	: Paul Peter Piech Collection
Date(s)	: 1960s-1970s
Level of description	: Collection (fonds)
Extent	: 1 box
Name of creator(s)	: Piech | Paul Peter | 1920-1996 | US artist and printer

Context

Administrative/Biographical history:

Paul Peter Piech was born in Brooklyn in 1920. He studied at the Cooper Union School of Art in New York and the Chelsea School of Art in London. After working in advertising, Piech returned to Chelsea to teach graphic design, also teaching at the London College of Printing and Middlesex Polytechnic. In 1959 Piech set up The Taurus Press at his home in Bushey Heath. This private press produced books which defied usual printing conventions of setting, spacing and layout, often reflecting Piech's deeply held pacifist views, and were illustrated with his trademark linocuts and woodcuts. Piech died in 1996. Further information on the Taurus Press may be found in Kenneth Hardacre, 'The private press of Paul Piech', The Penrose annual 1976: the international review of the graphic arts (ed) Stanley greenwood and Clive Goodacre (Northwood Publications, London, 1976).

Content

Scope and content/abstract:

Papers of Paul Peter Piech, 1960s-1970s, mainly comprising copies of books produced by the Taurus Press, his private press begun at his home in Bushey Heath. These books include America and Selected poems, both by William Blake; several are very limited editions. There are also copies of books illustrated by Piech using woodcuts and linocuts.

Access & Use

Language/scripts of material:
English

System of arrangement:

Conditions governing access:

By appointment. Users should contact the Learning Resource Manager.

Conditions governing reproduction:

At the discretion of the Learning Resource Manager. Copyright currently resides with the estate of Piech.

Finding aids:

On library catalogue: listed as 'Special books collection'.

Archival Information

Archival history:

Immediate source of acquisition:

Paul Peter Piech donated pieces of his own work to the Library when he lectured at Middlesex during the 1970s and 1980s.

Allied Materials

Related material:

Publication note:

Description Notes

Archivist's note:
Compiled by Sarah Aitchison as part of the RSLP Aim25 Project.

Rules or conventions:
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Date(s) of descriptions:
Dec 2001