John Muir

Santa Cruz, CA: Peter & Donna Thomas, 1997. (10) pp. Approximately 2 1/4 x 2 3/4". LIMITED EDITION of 97 copies, this being #38. Case-bound accordion with piano-hinge binding, handmade paper covers over boards, decorated with acrylic paint and crayon, title stamped in gold on front cover, inside white paper is also handmade by Peter, text was linoleum-cut by Donna, illustrations are linoleum cuts of birds, mountains, and shapes by Donna, spanning the entire accordion, numbered on the colophon, in fine condition. (P&D Thomas Bibliography A88)

Donna skied up Mt. Dana, in Yosemite, during a winter snow camping trip. Near the top, as she watched crows circling overhead, she was inspired to cut blocks for a book. She paired her illustrations with a quote about nature enriching life by John Muir.

Edward Gorey

Dallas, TX: Aredian Press, 2020. Approximately 2 15/16 x 2 15/16". First edition, LIMITED EDITION of 26 copies, this being letter "G". Design binding by Patrice Miller of Aredian Press, presented within a box covered with a tan slubbed book cloth and burgundy bonded leather. The leather stripping surrounding the box exterior represents strands of yarn. Upon opening the book, one sees a multicolored knitted object sitting inside a woolen sock. Using the sock to lift the object from the box, one finds the book within the wide hand-knitted band of heavy yarn. The book is burgundy leather over boards with WM initials on cover label, inside is a carousel structure with two built-in slipcases holding the text of the play and a portfolio of the play kit with sets, characters, props and Gorey's production notes. Signed and numbered by the publisher on the colophon, fine condition.

The Worsted Monster by Edward Gorey was previously published only in National Lampoon magazine, as a do-it-yourself activity consisting of a plot script with Gorey's illustrations for set, characters, props, and production notes. The play consists of a prologue and three acts. Utter nonsense, the action begins with the infant Isinglass being overtaken by the monster and concludes with the menacing yarn inexplicably having become a huge pile of knitted socks. This is the first edition, authorized by the Edward Gorey Charitable Trust, and is being produced in an edition of 26 with copies lettered A to Z, as well as three out of series copies for the publisher and the EGT archives. 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.

Thomas Bewick

Chicago: Black Cat Press, 1971. Approximately 2 1/8 x 2 5/8 ". (48 pp.) LIMITED EDITION of 200 copies. Full dark red leather with gold-stamped Bewick's signature on front cover and title ("Bewick") on spine, illustrated from 15 original wood blocks carved by Thomas Bewick and printed by R. Hunter Middleton (the Bewick authority), frenchfold, type pages were letterpress printed on Troya paper by Charles Young at the Norman Press, binding by Monastery Hill Binder, in near fine condition. (Bradbury, Black Cat Press 37)

Thomas Bewick (1753 - 1828) was a natural history author and an engraver. Bewick is most famous for his book, A History of British Birds, whose wood engravings are much admired for the small and often humorous vignettes. This miniature book is considered by some to be the finest book from Norman Forgue's Black Cat Press.

Patrice Miller

Dallas, TX: Aredian Press, 2022. Approximately 2 1/2 x 2 1/2". LIMITED EDITION of 7 copies, this being #5. Design binding by Patrice Miller of Aredian Press. The structure is a crossed portfolio with an illustrated three-dimensional central core, decorated matchbox sleeve enclosure provides the title, colophon, and limitation which is, signed and numbered by the publisher, hand-drawn and hand-colored illustrations, in fine condition. Beautifully structured and original miniature book.

The original sixteen line poem in iambic pentameter is a parody of Andrew Marvell's "To His Coy Mistress", and is a water gardener's lament. 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.