Products
The Dwindling Party
New York: Random House, 1982. 16 x 21". Illustrated cover on glossy paper, pop-up book with all tabs in excellent working order, fine condition. (Toledano A83a).
This is the tale of the "dwindling" MacFizzet family as they travel through Hickyacket Hall, told in a typically macabre fashion for a Gorey book.
The Eclectic Abecedarium
Dallas, TX: Aredian Press, 2022. Approximately 4 x 12". LIMITED EDITION of 5 copies, this being #2. Design binding by Patrice Miller of Aredian Press. The structure is decorative paper over heavy book boards with paper label on cover, stiff paper Tyvek accordion spine backed by Indian cotton screen printed paper, flag book design with blue, red, and green cover weight papers to back the letter illustrations, colophon, and limitation which is, signed and numbered by the publisher, in fine condition. Beautifully structured and original book.
First published in 1983 with only 100 copies, this is a beautiful (but typically macabre for Gorey) book with illustrations and text referring to each letter of the alphabet. An example: The way to Hell is down a Well.. Patrice Miller's work has found its way to private and university collections, in the states and abroad. Human foibles, nature’s panoply, and artistic cleverness cannot help but inform future work. She continues to bind, and rebind, in Dallas, Texas.
The Edward Gorey Bestiary: 1984 Engagement Calendar
Corte Madera, CA: Pomegranate Artbooks, 1983. SIGNED. Spiral-bound with glossy pictoral color illustration on the front cover, slight crease to upper corner, no manuscript entries, in near fine condition. (Toledano p. 157B).
This beautiful and unmarked engagement calendar is illustrated throughout with reprinted illustrations, in color and black and white, from a variety of sources including Gorey's books, posters, cards and etchings.
The Exquisitry of William Lewis Washburn
New Britain, CT: REM Miniatures, 1999. (44) pp. Approximately 2 3/4 x 2 1/4". LIMITED EDITION of 99 copies, this being #28. Black buckram, printed paper label on upper cover, illustrated, unpaginated, slide-on paper sleeve, all enclosed in a decorated box with printed label. Signed presentation from the Massmanns on second free fly. A very fine copy; prospectus laid in. (Bradbury, REM, 100)
A tribute to William Lewis Washburn, publisher of miniature books and broadsides, with a short-title list of all his publications.
The Eyes of Texas
Austin, TX: Amistad Press, 1982. (28) pp. Approximately 1 x 1 3/8". LIMITED EDITION of 250 copies. Orange cloth over printed paper boards, illustrated, original packaging, signed by the publisher on the copyright page, fine condition. (Bradbury, Amistad Press 41)
A humorous little tale about how the song "The Eyes of Texas are Upon You" came into being. Written by Jack Maguire, Executive Director of the University of Texas Institute of Texan Cultures in San Antonio. This is the smaller first edition, as a larger second edition was printed in 1986.
The Farmer's Boy (with double fore-edge painting)
London: Verner, Hood, and Sharpe Poultry; and Longman, Hust, Rees and Orme, Paternoster-Row, 1808. 99 pp. + notes and advertisements. Approximately 4 x 6 1/4"; Straight-grain red morocco, 5 raised bands, gilt borders and spine, all edges gilt, tenth edition (stated), slightly corner bumped, otherwise in near fine condition.
Robert Bloomfield (1766 - 1823), was an English self-educated poet. He was born into a poor family and died in debt, although he had some success with The Farmer's Boy, his best known work. Written in iambic pentameter couplets, The Farmer's Boy describes rural life through the seasons, often showing that it is harsh work, although the tone is still cheerful. The double fore-edge paintings are by an unknown artist and show a fox-hunting scene on one side and the scene of an angler in a small boat on the other, nicely but not elaborately done.
The Forgotten Village: Life in a Mexican Village
New York: Viking Press, 1941. 143 pp. Approximately 7 x 10". First Edition with the words "First Published in May 1941" on copyright page. Coarse buckram cloth over boards with bright green illustration on front cover, top edges stained green, slight toning of paste-down endpapers, near fine condition. Very good pictorial dust jacket, a few short closed tears, original price of $2.50 present, some chipping and loss, some toning to back cover. (Goldstone & Payne A14a)
From the front dust jacket flap, "This is a story of the little pueblo of Santiago on the skirts of a hill in the mountains of Mexico. And this is the story of the boy Juan Diego and of his family and of his people, who live in the long moment when the past slips reluctantly into the future." Photographs from the motion picture throughout.
The Friar of Rubygill
n.p.: The Cherub Press, 1987. (6) pp. Approximately 2 3/4 x 2 3/8". LIMITED EDITION of 65 copies. Decorated handmade paper over stiff wrappers, printed paper lable on front cover, Hand-colored frontis by Kim Butcher. A fine copy, attractively printed.
Cherub Press is the publisher of the journal KABBALAH and many books and editions of Jewish mystical literature. This particular little story is an excerpt from Thomas L. Peacock's novel, "Maid Marion" (1822).
The Garden of Allah
Popular Library, no publication date (1970 approximation based on research). Book is tight and square. Spine is creased and slightly edge worn. Cover is bright, with edge wear and creasing on top corner. Interior is clean, no bookstore stamps or writing. Age toning is present as is common in books of this vintage.
The Gashlycrumb Tinies Limited Edition Portfolio
Yarmouth Port, MA: Edward Gorey House, 2013. Black four-flap case with label on front cover houses all items, in fine condition. 30 loose sheets with black frame, Edward Gorey's embossed signature on title and colophon cards, in fine condition.
In 2013, the golden anniversary of the publication of The Gashlybrumb Tinies arrived. This is Edward Gorey's most iconic (appalling) alphabet book and most likely his best known work. It has never been out of print. Gorey House issued, as separate plates, the 26 Tinies and the original cover image, each suitable for framing. Images are printed in their original size of 5 x 6" on 8 x 10" art paper. Enclosed with the plates is an attractive portfolio and an a celebratory title card and colophon card giving the details of this particular edition. Issued in a limited edition of 100 numbered sets and 26 lettered sets, this being "F/26". A bonus in the lettered sets is the plate of the rejected "F is for Fanny" because Edward chose to rework it for the final book, produced here separately for the first time. Lettered sets sold out quickly and are thus scarce to find on the market.