Products
Twas the Night Before Christmas
Santa Cruz, CA: Peter & Donna Thomas, 1982. 30 pp. Approximately 3 x 2 1/2". LIMITED EDITION of 200 copies, this being #14. Red paper over boards, title on label on cover, eight linoleum cut illustrations by Donna, illustrated red paper wrapper, in fine condition. (Bradbury, Peter & Donna Thomas, 44; P&D Thomas Bibliography A77)
Peter and Donna Thomas, well-known book artists, authors, and paper-makers, have been operating their private press since 1976. A beautiful and artistic book, this story was first published in 1823 anonymously and later was credited to the author in 1837. Perhaps one of the best-known poems ever written, it is responsible for the image and characteristics of Santa Claus that is still prevalent today. From the bibliography: "As a child I had a copy of the St. Onge edition of 'The Night Before Christmas,' illustrated by Tasha Tudor, and we wanted to make our own version. In our admiration, we copied St. Onge's type and called Doner, Donner."
Two Bear Cubs
California: Yosemite Association, 1997. (36) pp. Approximately 10 x 10 3/4". First Limited Edition of 200 numbered and 26 lettered copies, this being #13. SIGNED by both author and illustrator. Pictorial boards with full color illustrations throughout. Extra illustration for limited edition only, not in trade copies. Fine in fine dust jacket in fine slipcase.
Authentic Southern Sierra Miwok Indian legend a retold by the author with information about the tribe. Beautifully done.
Up 65 Years to Larchmont
Los Angeles: Bela Blau, 1970. 31 pp. Approximately 1 3/16 x 1 5/8". Brown-red leather over boards with gilt title on cover and gilt publisher on spine, decorative endpapers, frontispiece, letterpress and gilt leather by Bela Blau, in near fine condition. (Bradbury, Dawson 37)
A lovely little book about the various locations over the years of Dawson's Book Shop in the Los Angeles area, known as "one of the six renaissance miniature book publishers in the U.S. during the early 1960s." (Bradbury) Bela Blau, along with his wife Mariana, came to the U.S. from Hungary in 1956 and established a bindery business. An amazing award winning binder, his leather work and attention to detail is remarkable.
Usher's Passing
New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1984. 401 pp. Approximately 6 1/4 x 9 1/4". First edition, first printing. Illustrated jacket in fine condition. Black cloth 1/4 bound over red boards, gilt title on spine, signed by author on title page, some spotting to top page edges, otherwise in near fine condition.
Inspired by Edgar Allan Poe's story "Fall of the House of Usher", this book covers the idea of what would have happened if all of the Usher's hadn't died. Set in North Carolina, present day, five generations of Usher's tell their story.
Vincent in Arles: Four Letters to Theo
Velp, Netherlands: Catharijne Press, 2003. Approximately 1 7/8 x 2 1/2 ". 59 pp. DELUXE LIMITED EDITION of 20 copies (I - XX), this being #IV. Blue cloth slipcase containing a 5 euro coin showing van Gogh's portrait made up of the letters of his name; the coin was issued in 2003 by the Royal Dutch Mint in honor of the 150th birthday of Vincent van Gogh (1853 - 1890). Tan cloth over boards, blue endpapers, tipped in frontispiece and tipped in illustrations (color plates), printed in 6 point Swift font, in fine condition.
According to the publisher's introduction, "This miniature book is a tribute to the remarkable artist, reviled during his life, celebrated after his death." Even though Van Gogh wrote over 200 letters while staying in Arles, these 4 letters to his brother Theo give us some insight into his thought processes during this zenith of his career.
Vinegar Valentine
n.p.: n.p., ca 1900. 7 x 9 1/2". Single sheet, lightly toned, minor tears to edges, creased where folded, most likely printed in the United States, stipple engraving, in very good condition.
A common practice in the U.K. and the United States from about 1840 to 1940, these "Vinegar Valentines" were known for their caricatures and insulting poems. Rather rare today since many of these were thrown out by their horrified recipients. The "H." initial might possibly indicate it was created by cartoonist Charles Howard who worked for printer John McLoughlin. The subject of this one is "Your Affinity", about a Broadway stage actor.
Vinegar Valentine
n.p.: n.p., ca 1900. 10 x 13 1/2". Single sheet, lightly toned, minor chip to edge, printed in the United States, stipple engraving, bold colors, in very good condition.
A common practice in the U.K. and the United States from about 1840 to 1940, these "Vinegar Valentines" were known for their caricatures and insulting poems. Rather rare today since many of these were thrown out by their horrified recipients. The "H." initial might possibly indicate it was created by cartoonist Charles Howard who worked for printer John McLoughlin. This is an uncommonly large example of the genre. The subject of this one is "A Professional Scandal Monger".
Vintage Art Drawn Colour Picture Post Card
London: S. Hildesheimer & Co., [1906]. 3 1/2 x 5 1/2". Illustrated stiff post card, author signed "M. Stocks", minor rubbing, very good condition.
Series No. 5217 of cards, variously found dated 1905 - 1908. This card depicting two kittens drinking milk from a bowl.
Vintage Tri-Fold Hand-Held Fan
Paris, IL: U.O. Colson Co., [ca. 1930]. 5 x 7". Cardboard tri-fold fan, US Patent 1655229 indicates year of 1927 or later, slight stain to top corner, some wear to tabs, otherwise very good condition.
Beautiful ca 1930's fan which folds out to homestead scene, signed by artist "Stadland". Advertiser on back cover is Osti's Landscape Nursery in Sierra Madred, CA.
Wallace Stegner: A Descriptive Bibliography
Lewiston, ID: Confluence Press, Inc., 1990. First Edition. No dust jacket, as issued. Green cloth over boards with crisp gilt design on cover and lettering on spine, signed by Stegner and the author on the title page, limited to 1,000 copies, no edge wear and looks unread, really minor foxing to top page edges, otherwise in near fine condition.
Wallace Earle Stegner (1909 - 1993) was an American novelist and short story writer. He won a Pulitzer Prize in 1972 for "Angle of Repose" and the National Book Award for "The Spectator Bird" in 1977. He won numerous other awards and his legacy lives on in many parts of the United States and Canada, with a Stegner Fellowship program in creative writing at Stanford University being one of the highlights. This is a must-have for any Stegner collector.