Posted by Peter H on April 21, 2006 at 22:59:26 from 86.130.122.231 user Peter_H.
In Reply to: Re: S&A Printing History oddity- reason for interest posted by andyb on April 21, 2006 at 17:42:49:
AR and his publishers had more to worry about in WWII than paper shortages. In September 1940, all the printing blocks for The Big Six were destroyed by a bomb. The blockmaker lost his machinery and premises.
In May 1941, Wren Howard, from Cape, told AR that 'two or three more publishers and several booksellers were blown up, as well as . . the binders. . . The chap who cuts our binding brasses was also destroyed [ie his premises were destroyed] for the second time, but is starting again'. (Best of Childhood)
Arcane trivia? It must not have seemed so at the time!