The Quest

This short-lived art journal began life in November 1894 and lasted for only 6 issues ceasing publication in July 1896. It was published quarterly by Birmingham publishers Cornish Brothers and was arguably a noteworthy Arts & Crafts publication and was printed by hand at the Press of The Birmingham Guild of Handicrafts. Each edition was limited to only 300 copies at a cost of 2 shillings and 6p (2/6p) which is the 2023 equivalent of approximately £20 so it is today a very hard-to-find publication and costly as well.

It contains numerous wood-block illustrations by students of the Birmingham School of Art and members of the Birmingham Group of Artist-Craftsmen. Those included were Georgie Gaskin, Arthur Gaskin, Joseph Southall, Celia Levetus (who designed the cover of the first edition), Charles March Gere and Sydney Meteyard to name but a few. Literary contributions were supplied by Claude Napier-Clavering who discussed bookbinding and W. R. Lethaby on Arts & Crafts and William Morris.

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