Renaissance Journal (2 Volumes)

[Oregon House, CA]: Fellowship of Friends, 1977. First Edition. Quartos; unpaginated. Fine copies printed letterpress on white wove paper and bound in full red morocco with marbled endpapers; spine in six panels with raised bands and handsomely lettered in gold with gold and black detail. Volume I includes each weekly journal (19) issued August - December 1977; Volume II includes all weekly journals (26) issued January - June, 1978.

The Fellowship of Friends was begun in 1970 and soon established its headquarters in the Sierra foothills of Yuba County. Its philosophy was based on the teachings of the Russian philosophers George Gurdjieff and Peter Ouspensky. Perhaps surprisingly (in 70s California), the group focused on classical art and literature as a way for its members to grow spiritually, and in 1977 began to produce the 'Renaissance Journal' based on their weekly meetings. Each issue is nine 8 1/4" by 9 1/2" pages with an occasional 'double' issue devoted to the teachings of an historical philosopher (such as Goethe or Petrarch). Tipped to the front cover of each issue is an ~ 8" x 7" full-color print of an Old Master painting while the back cover reproduces an engraving/sage thought of an imminent historical figure.

Once described as 'a thinking man's cult,' the Fellowship of Friends established its 'Renaissance Press' to produce its printed materials; the late Peter Bishop received his early training at the Renaissance Press, eventually leaving to establish 'The Petrarch Press' in 1985. Meanwhile, master rare book restorer Max Adjarian was convinced to oversee the 'Renaissance Bindery' and to teach members his trade. Adjarian's star pupil was the late (and later award-winning) bookbinder Bruce Levy, who created these unsigned bindings.

While it may be difficult today to fathom why otherwise intelligent people might be attracted to a 1970's California 'cult,' these handsome journals provide a clue.