Products
Cowpokes
New York: Lothrop, Lee & Shepard, 1999. Unpaginated. Approximately 10 x 10". First Limited Edition of 26 lettered copies, this being "P". 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.
From the front flap, "They don their boots & hats & chaps, down their flapjacks, then it's up into the saddle & off they go." Beautifully done book that will charm both children and adults alike.
Coyote and the Shooting Stars (Standard Edition)
Freeville, New York: Carol Schwartzott, 2022. Limited edition of 24. 2.5 x 3"; 26 pages. Miniature. Flutter book structure. Paper-bound with scanned images, some of which are additionally hand-colored. Digitally printed on Mohawk Via Vellum. Papers used: Rives BFK, Indian hand-marbled papers, and Japanese Momi. Of the edition, 12 presented in standard paper-covered drop-lid box; 12 presented in a handmade wooden box with a glass lid in which is a hand-beaded coyote and star. Signed and numbered by the artist.
This is a version of the Native American shooting stars creation myth featuring Coyote. He talks a star into lifting him in to the sky to dance. When he grows tired and lets go of the star, he plunges to earth creating a trail of light – a shooting star.
Crumbs From The Master's Table
New York: D. Appleton, 1831. 192 pp. Approximately 2 1/4 x 2 3/4". Blue cloth over boards, paper label on spine, corner bumping with small portion of boards showing through, otherwise in very good + condition. (Bradbury, D. Appleton, 1; Welsh 4865).
Daniel Appleton (1785-1849) began publishing in New York in 1831 and his first imprint was this miniature book. There are two editions of this book, both with 1831 on the title page. One edition has numbered pages and "stereotype edition" on the title page. The other edition has unnumbered pages and no mention of "stereotype edition". It is not possible to know which version came first. This edition was 2,000 copies and was very popular as inspirational books had a good market at that time.
Cup of Gold
New York: Covici Friede, (1936). 269 pp. Approximately 5 1/4 x 7 3/4". Second Edition. Decorative dust jacket in very good condition with author of "Of Mice and Men" on cover, some darkening to spine, minor edge wear and small enclosed tear on bottom of front cover, price clipped, repair tape on the inside. Blue cloth over boards, top stain blue, blind stamping of ship and scroll on front cover, gilt-stamped spine slightly faded, near-fine condition. (Goldstone & Payne, A1c)
John Steinbeck (1902 - 1968) was an American author who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1962. This is John Steinbeck's first novel and is an historical fiction loosely based on the life and adventures of privateer Henry Morgan. The "Cup of Gold" refers to Panama City, where a lot of the action takes place.
D'Ambrosio: The Book as an Art Form
Gualala, CA: North Light Gallery, 1983. Approximately 17 x 21". LIMITED EDITION of 100 copies, this being #60. Broadside is a serigraph image with text, signed and numbered in pencil by the artist, in fine condition.
Joseph D'Ambrosio (1934 -2009) was an American artist and binder. He left a career in engineering to pursue a new career in making artist’s books. He wrote, set type, printed designs, did the artwork and the binding. His books were considered works of art and were signed and numbered similar to limited edition fine art prints. D’Ambrosio also produced many broadside posters on fine papers that were issued in conjunction with his book projects and for special events. This broadside from 1983 is a promotional work for his book of the same title.
Decorative Box in Book Form
(Paris): n.p., 1934. Approximately 3 1/4 x 4 1/2". Green textured paper with gilt decorations resembling latches on front cover, more faux brass decorations and title on spine, all edges gilt and molded to resemble book pages showing some wear and pencil marks, interior nicely lined in gilt paper. A very good copy, unique.
Desert Rat Scrap Book, Packet Two of Pouch Six
Thousand Palms, CA: Harry Oliver, [1953]. First edition; 17 x 22" (folded double three times); heavy cream-colored stock; profusely illustrated with cover art by Art Loomer; minor puncture to lower fold-line and a small rubbed spot to front cover, else minor wear to edges; overall very good to near fine condition.
The "Desert Rat Scrap Book" (or DSRB) was a (somewhat irregularly published) quarterly Southwestern humor periodical created by art director, humorist, and artist Harry Oliver. Boasting to be "the smallest newspaper in the world" and the "only newspaper in America you can open in the wind," the current Packet Two, or The Contentment Packet, included the second installment of western-novels writer Dane Coolidge's "Death Valley Scotty, Prospector and Showman," Don Blanding's "The Desert," and the hilarious article "Mule Decides to Quit Army," etc. Considered by many to be the precursor to the zine culture - few copies of Oliver's journal have survived.
Detti e Motti Triestini
Milan, Italy: Legatoria Conti Borbone dei Fratelli Marchesi, 1989. (32) pp. 1 1/4 x 1 3/4". Marbled paper over boards, 7 illustrations, text in Italian, in fine condition.
The title translates to Triestine sayings and mottos. A lovely well-made miniature book. Since 1873, bookbinding Conti Borbone has been a reference point for luxury objects and bindings.
Die Erinnerungen des Giacomo Casanova. Vollständig übertragen von Heinrich Conrad. Mit einer Einleitung von Friedrich Freska. (The Memories of Giacomo Casanova)
Berlin: Benjamin Harz, [1911]. Approximately 5 x 7 1/2". Volumes 1-3 only (volumes 4-6 missing). Marbled boards with half leather binding, top edge gilt, 5 bands and title on spine, fine gold embossing, illustrated title page and frontispiece,some rubbing to edges and slight rip in leather on volume 1, in very good + condition.
The memories of Giacomo Casanova (1725 - 1798). Completely translated by Heinrich Conrad. With an introduction by Friedrich Freska. Conrad attaches great importance to emphasizing the completeness of his transmission, except for the two chapters that Casanova, for some unexplained reason, has removed himself.
Dippa, Kippa, Leepa
Pasadena, CA: Tabula Rasa Press, 1981. Miniature book, 2 1/8 x 2"; Letterpress, gilt leather spine, cloth boards, 89 pp, some rubbing to spine. Printed using type Granjon on 100 percent rag, Cranes crest, number 165 of 300 copies, (Bradbury, Tabula Rasa Press 20).
An enchanting tale about a young Greek boy going to American school for the first time and learning the English language. Scarce in the trade. 6 institutional holdings in OCLC.