E. Mervyn Taylor bookplate produced for Desmond Buckley in 1945

Ernest Mervyn Taylor (1906-1964) known as E. Mervyn Taylor was a celebrated New Zealand printmaker. When his original woodblock prints come up at auction prices are generally substantial. This work is an affordable entry point and a fascinating piece of history. Artists in New Zealand have often struggled to make a consistent living from their art and one of the ways that Taylor sustained himself and his family in New Zealand in the 1940s was through taking commissions for bookplates. This one is specifically mentioned in Bryan James' book E. Mervyn Taylor - Artist: Craftsman, 2006 and is reproduced in the book on page 51. Taylor was a master of wood engraving and James indicates he was commissioned to produce over 50 bookplates for bibliophiles, collectors and international libraries. "He once said he loved doing them because of the challenge they represented in attempting to express something of the character of the collector." (James, p. 51)  

Buckley was given an elegant prancing stag in front of a group of trees. Taylor's mastery of wood engraving is immediately obvious in this small work of art. The frame is in excellent condition and is relatively recent so it is ready to hang on the wall of a new home. Please look closely at the photographs as they form part of the description and ask if you have any questions at all. The line that appears on the matte board in some photos is a shadow not a flaw, sorry my photography skills require further work.