Derrydale Press
Collection

of the

College of Charleston
Special Collections
 
 

    "When I established The Derrydale Press I had three definite objectives in mind: (1) to reprint the very scarce Early American books on sport which had become so rare that some of them would never be seen outside of a few private collections; (2) to publish a series of hand-coloured prints on rag paper which would give a true and permanent picture of contemporary sport in this coutry, and (3) to produce a group of books on contemporary American sport which, because of their beauty, would be preserved instead of discarded in time."

Eugene Virginius Connett III was born in Orange, New Jersey on March 8, 1891.  He was one of four children and son of a hat manufacturer whose factory was in Newark, New Jersey.  The business was said by Connett to have been the oldest manufacturing concern of its kind in the United States, having been founded by his great-great-grandfather early in the nineteenth century.

During the years 1912-1925, Connett builty his own modest personal collection of sporting books with the aid of the noted sporting book dealer, Ernest R. Gee.  In 1925, Connett sold his hat manufacturing business.  Referring to that event he wrote, "I took several months off and went fishing.  During those happy days on various trout streams I made up my mind that I wanted to publish fine sporting books, but I knew I had to learn something about printing.  To make a long story somewhat shorter, I asked the owners of J.N. Johnston & Company, who had printed some catalogues for us in the hat business, if they would give me a job as a printing salesman.  With something less than enthusiasm on their part, I was allowed to sell printing for them.  After a reasonably successful, but extremely harrowing year at this fearful task, I felt ready to print fine books."

In 1926, Connett formed a relationship with Daniel Berkeley Updike, one of America's most noted typographers, printers and book designers, whose work Connett greatly admired.  It was from Updike's Merrymount Press that Connett got the idea of callng his own press "The Derrydale Press," a name which later encompassed all of his business endeavors.  As he stated: "A bottle of Scotch, a map of Ireland, and my tremendous admiration for the work of Daniel B. Updike all contributed to the gestation of the name."

The Derrydale Press thrived until World War II.  Connett insisted on using the best materials for the construction of his books.  Many of these materials were shipped from Europe and the War impeded their arrival.  Rather than make an inferior product, Connett chose to close the Press in 1941.  Of the one-hundred sixty-nine books printed by The Derrydale Press, the Special Collections of the College of Charleston has eighty-nine, thanks mostly to a generous donation by Robert Scott Small.
 

 
 

Magic Hours, 1927

Pteryplegia, or the art of shooting-flying, 1931

Written by George Markland, with an introduction by Col. H.P. Sheldon and illustrated and embelllished by Robert Ball.  Th Derrydale edition of Pteryplegia is the fourth.  The first edition appeared in 1727, the second in 1735, and the third in 1767.  Pteryplegia is the first book on wing shooting published in the English language.  Pteryplegia is said to be Connett's favorite book of those he published.
 
 
 

Harold G. Pickering, (b. 1888)

Mr. Pickering was a past president of the Angler's Club of New York, and the Editor of The Anglers' Club Bulletin.  Pickering had five books privately printed by The Derrydale Press to give as gifts to friends and relatives.  The books proved so amusing that all but Neighbors Have My Ducks were reprinted and offered for sale.

Trout Fishing in Secret, 1931

Dog-Days on Trout Waters, 1933

1936

Neighbors Have My Ducks, 1937

Merry Xmas, Mr. Williams, 1940