Products
Shakespeare on Paper Mills
Santa Cruz, CA: The Good Book Press, 1988. [64] pp. Approximately 1 9/16 x 1 15/16". LIMITED EDITION of 200 copies, of which the first 100 copies are printed on paper made during Shakespeare's lifetime (from a damaged copy of Digestrum Novum: 1576) and the second 100 copies use Peter Thomas' handmade paper. This is #99 from the first set made. Gilt morocco spine, paper over boards, illustrated by Donna Thomas, very minor wear, in fine condition. (Bradbury, Peter and Donna Thomas, 26; P&D Thomas Bibliography A50).
A beautiful miniature by well-known book artists, authors, and paper-makers Peter and Donna Thomas, this book presents a fascinating study of paper-mills and paper-making, as seen and described in various Shakespeare works, particularly Henry VI, Part 2: Act 4, Scene 7.
Shakespeare's Seasons
(Manteno, IL): Bronte Press, 1998. (28) pp. Approximately 2 3/8 x 3". LIMITED EDITION of 60 copies, this being #32. Marbled paper boards, calligraphy and illustrations by Suzanne Pruchnicki, hand-colored by Suzanne and Paul Pruchnicki, signed by the artist/printer. A fine copy, delightfully done. (Bradbury, Bronte Press #50)
Exceprts from Shakespeare's verses on the happenings of the seasons, all beautifully hand-colored.
Sinking to Heaven
Lake City, CO: Ravenpress, 2001. (Box) Approximately 1 1/2 x 3 x 2". LIMITED EDITION of 25 copies, this being #12. Outer box is dark wood with decorative brass onlays, in fine condition; Color copies from watercolor paintings with Mohawk Superfine text that are laminated to museum boards with burgundy and orange ribbons, two-sided, six paneled Jacob's ladder construction, numbered and signed on the colophon by the publisher, in fine condition.
This is the second book in the miniature pillow book series. Bailey uses evocative language and richly erotic imagery to refer to passions that remain indescribable. 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.
Song of Creation
Santa Cruz, CA: Peter & Donna Thomas, 1999. (8) pp. Approximately 2 1/8 x 2 3/4". LIMITED EDITION of 500 copies, this being #14. Cream paper over boards with scene of Yosemite on front label, eight page nested accordion binding depicting a 180 degree panoramic view of Yosemite Valley, in fine condition. (P&D Thomas Bibliography A96)
Peter and Donna Thomas call this "nested accordion pop-up fold book" which they later shortened to just a nested accordion binding. Based on a one-of-a-kind book from 1993 using water-color paintings made while backpacking in the California Sierra Nevada mountains. The background accordion is on green paper with plant-fiber inclusions.
The Book of Hours, a textual explanation of 15th century illuminated manuscripts
Van Nuys, CA: Barbara J. Raheb, 1979. 72 pp. Approximately 3/4 x 1 3/16". LIMITED EDITION of 300 copies, this being #91. Black leather cover with gilt titles on spine and gilt & jewel decorated cover, previous owner's bookplate on front free endpaper, decorative endpapers, illustrated, numbered on the colophon, in fine condition. (Bradbury, Barbara J. Raheb, 113)
Out of this edition of 300, some copies had hand-colored illustrations but this is not one of them. This is a brief explanation of the 15th century manuscript known as "The Book of Hours" They were a remarkable synthesis of the religious, artistic and secular life of the period. They were as much a status symbol of their time as they are today.
The Book of Proper English Tea
Agoura Hills, CA: [Barbara J. Raheb] Pennyweight Press, 1991. 48 pp. Approximately 5/8 x 15/16". LIMITED EDITION of 300 copies, this being #100. Blue pyroxylin cover with gilt titles on spine and cover, previous owner's bookplate on front free endpaper, marbled endpapers, illustrated, signed and numbered on the colophon, in fine condition. (Bradbury, Barbara J. Raheb, 420)
This is a lovely little book that talks about the tradition of English tea. It also has some recipes of sandwiches that are traditionally served with the tea. Dedicated to her friend and fellow bibliophile Grace Broeker, who was one of the country's major collectors of microminiature books and owned more than 600 of Barbara's books. If not for the distance apart, Barbara says they would have shared many cups of tea together.
The Book of Psalms
Van Nuys, CA: Barbara J. Raheb, [1978]. 318 pp. Approximately 3/4 x 7/8". LIMITED EDITION of 300 copies, this being #6. Black pyroxylin cover with gilt titles on spine and cover, previous owner's bookplate on front free endpaper, decorative endpapers, illustrated, numbered on the colophon, in fine condition. (Bradbury, Barbara J. Raheb, 101)
The book of Psalms is primarily about worship, praise and prayer. It also expresses the trials and triumphs of life in pursuit of God. The most famous Psalm is likely Psalm 23 which starts out, "The Lord is my Shepherd..."
The Canterbury Tales
Van Nuys, CA: Barbara J. Raheb, 1978. 40 pp. Approximately 3/4 x 15/16". LIMITED EDITION of 300 copies, this being #23. Red leather with gilt titles on spine and cover, previous owner's bookplate on front free endpaper, decorative endpapers, illustrated, signed and numbered on the colophon, in fine condition. (Bradbury, Barbara J. Raheb, 88)
Barbara Raheb must have loved this book as it is printed, by her, in four separate editions, this being the earliest one: 1978, 1980, 1987, and 1993. The illustrations by Barbara Raheb are based on those printed in the Ellesmere Manuscript published in 1410. Geoffrey Chaucer (1343 - 1400) is known as the Father of English literature and this is his best known work.
The Canterbury Tales
Agoura Hills, CA: [Barbara J. Raheb] Pennyweight Press, [1987]. 48 pp. Approximately 5/8 x 15/16". LIMITED EDITION of 300 copies, this being #92. Black leather with gilt titles on spine and cover, previous owner's bookplate on front free endpaper, decorative endpapers, illustrated, signed and numbered on the colophon, in fine condition. (Bradbury, Barbara J. Raheb, 367)
Barbara Raheb must have loved this book as it is printed, by her, in four separate editions: 1978, 1980, 1987, and 1993. The illustrations by Barbara Raheb are based on those printed in the Ellesmere Manuscript published in 1410. Geoffrey Chaucer (1343 - 1400) is known as the Father of English literature and this is his best known work.
The Cask of Amontillado
Boston: Anne & David Bromer, 1981. [21] pp. approx. 2 x 2 5/8". LIMITED EDITION of 150 copies, thirty-five of which are deluxe. Apart from the deluxe bindings printed by the Thistle Bindery which have a black inlaid morocco binding with box, this is a unique deluxe A/P edition in a custom Roland Meuter binding with pink leather, marbled aluminum covers and gilt top edge gauffered. Colored illustrations, signed by the illustrator on the colophon, housed in a wooden box with pink leather accents, in fine condition. (Bradbury, Bromer 7)
When Linnea Gentry moved her successful Amaranth Press from San Francisco to Santa Fe in 1980, she brought an exceptional sense of quality and a reputation as one of the Bay area’s most talented book artists. Gentry started her career as a designer at the EP Dutton firm in New York. In San Francisco she camped on the doorstep of the much-lauded Grabhorn Press, until she was taken on as a typesetting apprentice. She later launched her Amaranth Press where she turned out fine letterpress work for a discriminating clientele. In the mid-1970s she helped found and became production manager of Fine Print, an international journal of the book arts.
Her introduction to New Mexico came during childhood visits to her aunt, Helen Gentry, a renowned book designer and publisher who lived part-time in Santa Fe during the 1930s and 1940s and settled there after 1965. Colored by the elder Gentry’s circle of artist friends, the visits made a deep impression and influenced the Amaranth’s brief stay in Santa Fe before Gentry closed the press in 1983. (privatepress.org)
The binder, Roland Meuter, maintains an atelier in Ascona, Switzerland, where he continues to produce imaginatively designed bindings that attract considerable attention.