[]First Project] Privy Seal by Ford Madox Ford

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Matthew Aron

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Apr 27, 2025, 2:25:59 PM4/27/25
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Hi friends,

I've been lurking a while but was thinking I might get started on a first project, Privy Seal: His Last Venture by Ford Madox Ford. Seems like a pretty straightforward one to learn on—with dedication and epigraph to add a touch of front matter spice. Sound good?

Best,
Matthew

Alex Cabal

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Apr 27, 2025, 3:28:41 PM4/27/25
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Great, that one would be a good start.

This one is in British-style quotation so you'll have to run `se
british2american`. Since there's a dedication you'll add a half title
page. How to do parts is in the manual.

Make sure to read the Standard Ebooks Manual of Style before starting,
as you won't know what to fix if you haven't read the standards. In
particular, please closely review the semantics, high level patterns,
and typography sections:

https://standardebooks.org/manual

https://standardebooks.org/manual/latest/4-semantics

https://standardebooks.org/manual/latest/7-high-level-structural-patterns

https://standardebooks.org/manual/latest/8-typography

The step by step guide will take you from start to finish:

https://standardebooks.org/contribute/producing-an-ebook-step-by-step

This page on common issues in older books may be useful:

https://standardebooks.org/contribute/how-tos/common-issues-when-working-on-public-domain-ebooks

Please email often if you have any questions at all. Our standards are
well-established so there is probably already a standard for formatting
whatever problem you've encountered.

When you're ready, email back with a link to your Github repository so
that I can mark you as having started.

Have fun! :)
> --
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Matthew Aron

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May 5, 2025, 3:36:58 PM5/5/25
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Hello folks,

So I've gotten started, using
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/26698 as the GP source and
https://archive.org/details/privysealhislast00fordrich/mode/2up for page scans.

Here's my repo: https://github.com/arbtrry/ford-madox-ford_privy-seal

While I've mostly been getting my head around git and Github in a private practice repo, I was thinking ahead about cover images:

I'd like this book's SE cover to harmonize with the first book the Fifth Queen trilogy. The title figure Thomas Cromwell was painted by Hans Holbein but the painting is held by the Frick where copyright and all rights are reserved. (The cover of The Fifth Queen book 1 is attributed to Holbein's workshop.) So I propose a couple of alternatives that are also 16th century portraits from Northern Europe and held by CC0-friendly museums:
https://www.nga.gov/artworks/50722-portrait-man-possibly-jan-snoeck
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/436658
Let me know what you think.

One additional question for now: Ford was still publishing under his family name “Ford Madox Hueffer” when he published this. Please confirm that there's no need (and no place in content.opf) to indicate this.

Thanks,
Matthew

Vince

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May 5, 2025, 4:28:22 PM5/5/25
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If you can find a reproduction of the Holbein in a PD book, you can use it. I found this one; I don’t think it’s an engraving, but Alex is the expert on such things.

Alex Cabal

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May 5, 2025, 4:28:30 PM5/5/25
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OK, Emma will manage this with Lukas reviewing.

List the author as Ford Madox Ford, other names are not necessary.

On 5/5/25 2:36 PM, Matthew Aron wrote:
> Hello folks,
>
> So I've gotten started, using
> https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/26698 <https://www.gutenberg.org/
> ebooks/26698>as the GP source and
> https://archive.org/details/privysealhislast00fordrich/mode/2up
> <https://archive.org/details/privysealhislast00fordrich/mode/2up>for
> page scans.
>
> Here's my repo: https://github.com/arbtrry/ford-madox-ford_privy-seal
> <https://github.com/arbtrry/ford-madox-ford_privy-seal>
>
> While I've mostly been getting my head around git and Github in a
> private practice repo, I was thinking ahead about cover images:
>
> I'd like this book's SE cover to harmonize with the first book the Fifth
> Queen trilogy. The title figure Thomas Cromwell was painted by Hans
> Holbein but the painting is held by the Frick where copyright and all
> rights are reserved <https://collections.frick.org/view/objects/asitem/
> items%240040:101>. (The cover of The Fifth Queen book 1 <https://
> standardebooks.org/artworks/workshop-of-hans-holbein-the-younger/
> portrait-of-a-young-woman>is attributed to Holbein's workshop.) So I
> propose a couple of alternatives that are also 16th century portraits
> from Northern Europe and held by CC0-friendly museums:
> https://www.nga.gov/artworks/50722-portrait-man-possibly-jan-snoeck
> <https://www.nga.gov/artworks/50722-portrait-man-possibly-jan-snoeck>
> https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/436658 <https://
> www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/436658>
> Let me know what you think.
>
> One additional question for now: Ford was still publishing under his
> family name “Ford Madox Hueffer” when he published this. Please confirm
> that there's no need (and no place in content.opf) to indicate this.
>
> Thanks,
> Matthew
>
> On Sunday, April 27, 2025 at 3:28:41 PM UTC-4 Alex Cabal wrote:
>
> Great, that one would be a good start.
>
> This one is in British-style quotation so you'll have to run `se
> british2american`. Since there's a dedication you'll add a half title
> page. How to do parts is in the manual.
>
> Make sure to read the Standard Ebooks Manual of Style before starting,
> as you won't know what to fix if you haven't read the standards. In
> particular, please closely review the semantics, high level patterns,
> and typography sections:
>
> https://standardebooks.org/manual <https://standardebooks.org/manual>
>
> https://standardebooks.org/manual/latest/4-semantics <https://
> standardebooks.org/manual/latest/4-semantics>
>
> https://standardebooks.org/manual/latest/7-high-level-structural-
> patterns <https://standardebooks.org/manual/latest/7-high-level-
> structural-patterns>
>
> https://standardebooks.org/manual/latest/8-typography <https://
> standardebooks.org/manual/latest/8-typography>
>
> The step by step guide will take you from start to finish:
>
> https://standardebooks.org/contribute/producing-an-ebook-step-by-
> step <https://standardebooks.org/contribute/producing-an-ebook-step-
> by-step>
>
> This page on common issues in older books may be useful:
>
> https://standardebooks.org/contribute/how-tos/common-issues-when-
> working-on-public-domain-ebooks <https://standardebooks.org/
> contribute/how-tos/common-issues-when-working-on-public-domain-ebooks>
>
> Please email often if you have any questions at all. Our standards are
> well-established so there is probably already a standard for formatting
> whatever problem you've encountered.
>
> When you're ready, email back with a link to your Github repository so
> that I can mark you as having started.
>
> Have fun! :)
>
>
> On 4/26/25 11:07 PM, Matthew Aron wrote:
> > Hi friends,
> >
> > I've been lurking a while but was thinking I might get started on a
> > first project, Privy Seal: His Last Venture by Ford Madox Ford.
> Seems
> > like a pretty straightforward one to learn on—with dedication and
> > epigraph to add a touch of front matter spice. Sound good?
> >
> > Best,
> > Matthew
> >
> > --
> > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
> > Groups "Standard Ebooks" group.
> > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it,
> send
> > an email to standardebook...@googlegroups.com
> > <mailto:standardebook...@googlegroups.com>.
> > To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/
> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/>
> > standardebooks/ece04edf-6c8f-4d5b-a6e3-
> c509406b675bn%40googlegroups.com <http://40googlegroups.com>
> > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/standardebooks/
> ece04edf-6c8f-4d5b- <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/
> standardebooks/ece04edf-6c8f-4d5b->
> > a6e3-c509406b675bn%40googlegroups.com?
> utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer <http://40googlegroups.com?
> utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer>>.
>
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> eac8-4def-9f32-1612649568ddn%40googlegroups.com?
> utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer>.

Alex Cabal

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May 5, 2025, 4:30:57 PM5/5/25
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Doesn't look like an engraving to me

On 5/5/25 3:28 PM, Vince wrote:
> If you can find a reproduction of the Holbein in a PD book, you can use
> it. I found this one <https://archive.org/details/
> kpbc.umk.pl.Magazyn_379_07_265352/page/106/mode/1up>; I don’t /
> think/ it’s an engraving, but Alex is the expert on such things.
>
>> On May 5, 2025, at 2:36 PM, Matthew Aron <matthe...@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> Hello folks,
>>
>> So I've gotten started, using
>> https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/26698 <https://www.gutenberg.org/
>> ebooks/26698>as the GP source and
>> https://archive.org/details/privysealhislast00fordrich/mode/2up
>> <https://archive.org/details/privysealhislast00fordrich/mode/2up>for
>> page scans.
>>
>> Here's my repo: https://github.com/arbtrry/ford-madox-ford_privy-seal
>> <https://github.com/arbtrry/ford-madox-ford_privy-seal>
>>
>> While I've mostly been getting my head around git and Github in a
>> private practice repo, I was thinking ahead about cover images:
>>
>> I'd like this book's SE cover to harmonize with the first book the
>> Fifth Queen trilogy. The title figure Thomas Cromwell was painted by
>> Hans Holbein but the painting is held by the Frick where copyright and
>> all rights are reserved <https://collections.frick.org/view/objects/
>> asitem/items%240040:101>. (The cover of The Fifth Queen book 1
>> <https://standardebooks.org/artworks/workshop-of-hans-holbein-the-
>> younger/portrait-of-a-young-woman>is attributed to Holbein's
>> workshop.) So I propose a couple of alternatives that are also 16th
>> century portraits from Northern Europe and held by CC0-friendly museums:
>> https://www.nga.gov/artworks/50722-portrait-man-possibly-jan-snoeck
>> Let me know what you think.
>>
>> One additional question for now: Ford was still publishing under his
>> family name “Ford Madox Hueffer” when he published this. Please
>> confirm that there's no need (and no place in content.opf) to indicate
>> this.
>
> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
> Groups "Standard Ebooks" group.
> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send
> an email to standardebook...@googlegroups.com
> <mailto:standardebook...@googlegroups.com>.
> To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/
> standardebooks/34FC084A-60FD-4751-B5A8-CCA76E50C0CB%40letterboxes.org
> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/standardebooks/34FC084A-60FD-4751-
> B5A8-CCA76E50C0CB%40letterboxes.org?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer>.

Emma Sweeney

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May 5, 2025, 11:45:26 PM5/5/25
to Standard Ebooks
It looks like there are different versions of the Thomas Cromwell portrait, one with a scroll and one without. Vince provided PD proof of the scroll version, but I cannot find an image with the same writing on the scroll. According to The National Portrait Gallery, this text was replaced with "Earl of Essex". If you wish to use the one without the scroll, you will need to find PD proof that matches.

The other paintings are good alternatives; I'll add them to the art DB. Let me know if you found PD proof for the Thomas Cromwell portrait or if you want to use another painting.


Emma

Matthew Aron

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May 8, 2025, 2:08:30 PM5/8/25
to Standard Ebooks
Thanks, everyone! I plan to have a few more commits over the next few days.

I think my preference for cover would be the Jan Gossaert one: https://www.nga.gov/artworks/50722-portrait-man-possibly-jan-snoeck

Thanks again,
Matthew 

Message has been deleted

Emma Sweeney

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May 10, 2025, 12:54:03 AM5/10/25
to Standard Ebooks
OK, I've updated the art DB.

Emma

Emma Sweeney

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Jul 10, 2025, 8:00:05 AM7/10/25
to Standard Ebooks
Hi Matthew, I'm checking in to see how progress is going. Are you still working on this? Do you need any help?

Emma

Matthew Aron

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Jul 11, 2025, 12:20:50 PM7/11/25
to Standard Ebooks
Hi Emma:

Thanks for reaching out—and sorry to go dark for 2 months. I'll be back at it over the weekend.

Best,
Matthew

Matthew Aron

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Oct 10, 2025, 5:22:36 PM10/10/25
to standar...@googlegroups.com
Hi friends,

I am back on task and just made a new commit (dealing with the many italicized portions of the book). Apologies for the long delay! 

As I get back into the swing of things, is it best to ask questions directly to Emma or keep them on this list? And can the book be returned to "in progress" status?

Thank you!
Matthew

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--
Matthew L. Aron (he / him / his)

Alex Cabal

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Oct 10, 2025, 5:46:39 PM10/10/25
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You can continue replying to this thread, but let's leave the project
abandoned for now until there's some real activity and you feel closer
to completing. I don't want to lock this up for another 5+ months.
> portrait-man-possibly-jan-snoeck <https://www.nga.gov/
> artworks/50722-portrait-man-possibly-jan-snoeck>
>
> Thanks again,
> Matthew
>
> On Monday, May 5, 2025 at 11:45:26 PM UTC-4 Emma Sweeney
> wrote:
>
> It looks like there are different versions of the
> Thomas Cromwell portrait, one with a scroll and one
> without. Vince provided PD proof <https://
> archive.org/details/
> kpbc.umk.pl.Magazyn_379_07_265352/page/106/mode/1up>
> of the scroll version, but I cannot find an image
> with the same writing on the scroll. According to
> The National Portrait Gallery <https://
> www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/
> portraitConservation/mw02128/Thomas-Cromwell-Earl-
> of-Essex>, this text was replaced with "Earl of
> Essex".If you wish to use the one without the
> scroll, you will need to find PD proof that matches.
>
> The other paintings are good alternatives; I'll add
> them to the art DB. Let me know if you found PD
> proof for the Thomas Cromwell portrait or if you
> want to use another painting.
>
>
> Emma
> On Monday, May 5, 2025 at 4:30:57 PM UTC-4 Alex
> Cabal wrote:
>
> Doesn't look like an engraving to me
>
> On 5/5/25 3:28 PM, Vince wrote:
> > If you can find a reproduction of the Holbein
> in a PD book, you can use
> > it. I found this one <https://archive.org/
> details/ <https://archive.org/details/>
> > kpbc.umk.pl.Magazyn_379_07_265352/page/106/
> mode/1up>; I don’t /
> > think/ it’s an engraving, but Alex is the
> expert on such things.
> >
> >> On May 5, 2025, at 2:36 PM, Matthew Aron
> <matthe...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >>
> >> Hello folks,
> >>
> >> So I've gotten started, using
> >> https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/26698
> <https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/26698>
> <https://www.gutenberg.org/ <https://
> www.gutenberg.org/>
> >> ebooks/26698>as the GP source and
> >> https://archive.org/details/
> privysealhislast00fordrich/mode/2up <https://
> archive.org/details/privysealhislast00fordrich/
> mode/2up>
> >> <https://archive.org/details/
> privysealhislast00fordrich/mode/2up <https://
> archive.org/details/privysealhislast00fordrich/
> mode/2up>>for
> >> page scans.
> >>
> >> Here's my repo: https://github.com/arbtrry/
> ford-madox-ford_privy-seal <https://github.com/
> arbtrry/ford-madox-ford_privy-seal>
> >> <https://github.com/arbtrry/ford-madox-
> ford_privy-seal <https://github.com/arbtrry/
> ford-madox-ford_privy-seal>>
> >>
> >> While I've mostly been getting my head
> around git and Github in a
> >> private practice repo, I was thinking ahead
> about cover images:
> >>
> >> I'd like this book's SE cover to harmonize
> with the first book the
> >> Fifth Queen trilogy. The title figure Thomas
> Cromwell was painted by
> >> Hans Holbein but the painting is held by the
> Frick where copyright and
> >> all rights are reserved <https://
> collections.frick.org/view/objects/ <https://
> collections.frick.org/view/objects/>
> >> asitem/items%240040:101>. (The cover of The
> Fifth Queen book 1
> >> <https://standardebooks.org/artworks/
> workshop-of-hans-holbein-the- <https://
> standardebooks.org/artworks/workshop-of-hans-
> holbein-the->
> >> younger/portrait-of-a-young-woman>is
> attributed to Holbein's
> >> workshop.) So I propose a couple of
> alternatives that are also 16th
> >> century portraits from Northern Europe and
> held by CC0-friendly museums:
> >> https://www.nga.gov/artworks/50722-portrait-
> man-possibly-jan-snoeck <https://www.nga.gov/
> artworks/50722-portrait-man-possibly-jan-snoeck>
> >> <https://www.nga.gov/artworks/50722-
> portrait-man-possibly-jan-snoeck <https://
> www.nga.gov/artworks/50722-portrait-man-
> possibly-jan-snoeck>>
> >> https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/
> search/436658 <https://www.metmuseum.org/art/
> collection/search/436658> <https://
> >> www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/
> search/436658 <http://www.metmuseum.org/art/
> collection/search/436658>>
> >> Let me know what you think.
> >>
> >> One additional question for now: Ford was
> still publishing under his
> >> family name “Ford Madox Hueffer” when he
> published this. Please
> >> confirm that there's no need (and no place
> in content.opf) to indicate
> >> this.
> >
> > --
> > You received this message because you are
> subscribed to the Google
> > Groups "Standard Ebooks" group.
> > To unsubscribe from this group and stop
> receiving emails from it, send
> > an email to standardebook...@googlegroups.com
> > <mailto:standardebook...@googlegroups.com>.
> > To view this discussion visit https://
> groups.google.com/d/msgid/ <https://
> groups.google.com/d/msgid/>
> > standardebooks/34FC084A-60FD-4751-B5A8-
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> > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/
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> standardebooks/34FC084A-60FD-4751->
> > B5A8-CCA76E50C0CB%40letterboxes.org?
> utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer
> <http://40letterboxes.org?
> utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer>>.
>
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>
>
> --
> *Matthew L. Aron* (he / him / his)
> m 773.895.9975
>
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Matthew Aron

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Oct 10, 2025, 10:05:20 PM10/10/25
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Fair enough. Just gonna plug along then.
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