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Private company

Doves Press

Printer and publisher 1900–1916

The Doves Press was a private press based in Hammersmith, London. During nearly seventeen years of operation, Doves Press produced notable examples of twentieth-century typography. A distinguishing feature of its books was a specially-devised typeface, known variously as Doves Roman, Doves Press Fount of Type, or simply Doves Type.2 It was founded by T. J. Cobden-Sanderson.1 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 21, 2026.

Overview

1900Founded1
  • Industryprinting1
  • HeadquartersHarmondsworth1

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Doves Press Bible
Photo: Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons4

The Doves Press was a private press based in Hammersmith, London. During nearly seventeen years of operation, Doves Press produced notable examples of twentieth-century typography. A distinguishing feature of its books was a specially-devised typeface, known variously as Doves Roman, Doves Press Fount of Type, or simply Doves Type.2

The story

Founded by T. J. Cobden-Sanderson in 1900.1

Leadership

Who has led Doves Press, and when. Pick a name to see everywhere that person has worked.

Products and brands

  • letterpress printing
  • limited edition

Listed on Wikidata.1

Financed by Anne Cobden-Sanderson, Doves Press was founded by T. J. Cobden-Sanderson sometime before 1900 (when he invited his friend and neighbour Emery Walker to join him). Their partnership was dissolved in 1908, but Cobden-Sanderson continued printing.

Cobden-Sanderson had commissioned the press's own typeface – Doves Type – which was drawn under the supervision of Walker. The Doves Bindery, which Cobden-Sanderson had set up in 1893, bound the books he and Walker printed. The press produced all its books using a single 16-point size of this house typeface between 1900 and 1916. The press is considered to have been a significant contributor to the Arts and Crafts movement, whose founders were associated with William Morris and the Kelmscott Press.

The capital letters of Doves Type were based on typefaces used by Nicolas Jenson in the 1470s and the lowercase letters were based on typefaces used by Jacobus Rubeus. Atypical punctuation, extremely wide capitals, and an offset dot of the letter 'i' were distinctive features of the typeface. Doves Type was similar to William Morris's earlier Golden Type and, like it, was cut by punchcutter Edward Prince.

The press was located at No. 1 Hammersmith Terrace. It was named after The Dove, Hammersmith, a nearby riverside pub. The Doves Press was responsible for the Doves Bible (5 vols, 1902–1904), which the Columbia Encyclopedia considered one of the best examples of its kind.

From Wikipedia’s article on Doves Press, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.3

Timeline

  1. 1917Dissolved Dissolved1
  2. 1916Dissolved Dissolved1
  3. 1900Founded Founded1

Sources

The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.

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