Products
Mr. H. in America
Los Angeles, CA: Dawson's Book Shop, 1981. 23 pp. Approximately 2 7/8 x 2 1/4". LIMITED EDITION of 150 copies. Green leather with gilt lettering by Bela Blau, printed by the author from zinc plates mae by Pall Bohme, frontispiece also by Pall Bohme. A fine copy. (Bradbury, Dawson's, 67)
A little bit of writing about Charles Lamb and his work as an author.
Munkássakk (Worker's Chess)
Budapest, Hungary: Alföldi Nyomda, 1984. 160 pp. Approximately 1 3/4 x 2 1/2". Text in Hungarian. LIMITED EDITION of 400 copies, this being #2. Light brown leather over boards, Title in black on cover with chess board and knight piece illustration, seven black and white photographs, many chess diagrams, slight wear to cover, otherwise in near fine condition.
One of the best known printing houses in Budapest for the last 40 years, the Alföldi Printing House prints both large books and miniatures for both foreign and domestic markets. Their talent, inventiveness, and artistic ability were noted by Louis Bondy in his miniature book reference (p. 176).
Nelly, Poet Nobel Laureate, Homage to Nelly Sachs
Evanston, IL: Press of Ward Schori, 1988. 32 pp. Approximately 2 9/16 x 2 1/16". LIMITED EDITION of 200 copies. Black leather over boards with copper gilt lettering on front cover and spine, frontispiece, bound by Hugo Grummich, designed and hand typography by the publisher, some foxing to top edge, otherwise in near fine condition. (Bradbury, Schori 51)
Nelly Sachs (1891 - 1970) was a Swedish poet and playwright of Jewish German birth. She was greatly impacted by the rise of the Nazis during World War II and escaped Germany only one week before having to report to a concentration camp. Her poetry is very lyrical and poignant. She was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1966.
Odds Against
London: Michael Joseph, 1965. 256 pp. Approximately 6 1/4 x 9 1/4". 1st Edition, first printing. Illustrated dust jacket in very good + condition with minor edge wear and repair tape to inside cover near spine, slight rubbing to back cover, not price-clipped; Brown cloth over boards, crisp gilt title on spine, slight foxing of pages edges, otherwise in near fine condition.
Born Richard Stanley Francis (1920 - 2010), Dick Francis was a British crime writer whose novels were mostly centered on horse racing in England (he was a former steeplechase jockey himself). This book is Dick Francis' 5th book, with Sid Halley appearing for the first time as the private investigator. Edgar Award nominee.
Old Christmas
Haslet, TX: Tony Firman Bookbinding, 2011. Approximately 2 1/4x 3". First edition, LIMITED EDITION of 12 copies, this being #4. Illustrated paper over boards with green cloth spine which is slightly faded, color illustrated endpapers, numerous black and white illustrations, signed and numbered by the author on the colophon, in fine condition. Accompanying this book is a similarly bound book of the same shape and size, dated 2011 on the front cover, with a green ribbon for hanging as an ornament, blank pages.
This lovely book is from the original edition by Washington Irving (1783 - 1859), an American short-story writer, essayist, biographer, historian, and diplomat of the early 19th century, published by Macmillan & Co., London, 1886. This festive work, deserves to be a holiday tradition alongside Dickens in the celebrations of the winter solstice. While Tony Firman had been publishing prior to 2010, this is the year he began focusing on miniature books and established his publishing business, Plum Park Press, making small editions and selling them, issuing at least one a month. Firman's book, The Codex, recently won a distinguished award at Miniature Book Society's miniature book competition in 2024. His books are in many reputable institutions and private collections.
Olde Christmas Eve
(Manteno, IL): Bronte Press, 1997. (12) pp. Approximately 4 1/2 x 3", oblong. LIMITED EDITION unknown, this being #63. Green paper boards with label on front cover, caligraphy and illustrations by Suzanne Pruchnicki, hand-colored, signed by the artist/printer on the colophon, in fine condition. (Bradbury, Bronte Press)
Published by Washington Irving in 1876, this little book is a short story to enjoy for the holidays.
Opening a Shell (Shell Book 5)
Lake City, CO: Ravenpress, 2001. Approximately 2 7/8 x 2 7/8". LIMITED EDITION of 15 copies, this being #8. Outer box has mustard cloth and maroon illustrated and textured paper along with title label on spine, in fine condition; inside of box has five hanging cowry shells suspended from the top of the box with attached handing text, laser printed on unryu tissue, illustrated on the back of the inner box, visible only by moving the hanging objects, numbered and signed on the inside box spine by the publisher, in fine condition.
Pushing beyond typical erotic content, this box-style book explores auto-erotic sensations from a female perspective. Alicia Bailey began publishing under the Ravenpress imprint in 1996. Ravenpress publications are held in private, public and special collections worldwide. Bailey thinks of the artists' book works she creates as interactive sculptures realized in the form of the book. She works in a wide variety of materials, including those not often associated with the book form, thus necessitating structural redesign and innovations.
Out of Ovid's Metamorphoses: Icarus
Shaker Heights, OH: Wind & Harlot Press, 1983. (20) pp. Approximately 2 7/8 x 2 1/8". LIMITED EDITION of 27 copies, this being #1. Tan paper boards, printed paper label on spine, French-fold, illustrated with line-drawing printed in red. A very fine copy, handsomely printed. (Bradbury, Wind & Harlot Press, 4)
The Metamorphoses is a Latin narrative poem by the Roman poet Ovid, comprised of over 250 myths. This is the story of Icarus, whose winged downfall was caused by pride.
P.T. Barnum's Circus Museum and Menagerie
New York: White & Allen, 1888. (64) pp. Approximately 10 1/2 x 12 1/2". 1st edition. Color lithographed paper over boards, beautifully illustrated with full page color plates and many black and white illustrations, beautiful lithography by G.H. Buek & Co., some edge wear and light toning, one page has slight tear at the bottom, light soiling to margins of some pages, otherwise, very good condition.
Phineas Taylor Barnum, usually referred to as P.T. Barnum (1810 - 1891) was an American showman, politician, author, publisher, philanthropist and businessman. He said of himself, however, "I am a showman by profession...and all the gilding shall make nothing else of me." (Kunhardt 1995). Told in the form of a story for children, this stunning and scarce book showcases many of the acts, animals, and curiosities that appeared in Barnum's circus, such as Jumbo the Elephant, Che-Mah the Dwarf, and many other exotic animals.
Passion Play
New York: St. Martin's Press, 1979. 271 pp. First Edition. Approximately 6 1/2 x 9 1/4". Illustrated dust jacket in fine condition. Black cloth 1/4 bound over red boards, signed on front free endpaper, some foxing to top edges, otherwise in near fine condition.
From the dust jacket: "Passion Play bears the stamp of Jerzy Kosinski's power and eloquence, heightened by an unusual tenderness and humanity. Fabian is the author's most romantic, most vulnerable hero - but also his most sexually driven - making Passion Play an indelible narrative of love and loss." Also from the dust jacket: "He seeks out women whom he met as girls, in whose minds he planted a seed of himself in preparation for a future harvest of seduction". A predator or a tender person? You'll have to read it to find out.