New Arrivals
Old Christmas
Haslet, TX: Tony Firman Bookbinding, 2011. Approximately 2 x 3". First edition, LIMITED EDITION of 12 copies, this being #4. Illustrated paper over boards with green cloth spine which is slightly faded, color illustrated endpapers, numerous black and white illustrations, signed and numbered by the author on the colophon, in fine condition. Accompanying this book is a similarly bound book of the same shape and size, dated 2011 on the front cover, with a green ribbon for hanging as an ornament, blank pages.
This lovely book is from the original edition by Washington Irving (1783 - 1859), an American short-story writer, essayist, biographer, historian, and diplomat of the early 19th century, published by Macmillan & Co., London, 1886. This festive work, deserves to be a holiday tradition alongside Dickens in the celebrations of the winter solstice. While Tony Firman had been publishing prior to 2010, this is the year he began focusing on miniature books and established his publishing business, Plum Park Press, making small editions and selling them, issuing at least one a month. Firman's book, The Codex, recently won a distinguished award at Miniature Book Society's miniature book competition in 2024. His books are in many reputable institutions and private collections.
A Floral Fantasy in an Old English Garden
Haslet, TX: Plum Park Press, 2011. Approximately 2 x 3". First edition, LIMITED EDITION of 12 copies, this being #2. Illustrated cloth over boards, floral illustrated endpapers, color illustrations, signed and numbered by the author on the colophon, fine condition.
This lovely book is from the original edition by Walter Crane (1845 - 1915), an English artist and book illustrator, published by Harper and Brothers, London, 1899, set forth in verses & coloured designs. While Tony Firman had been publishing prior to 2010, this is the year he began focusing on miniature books and established his publishing business, Plum Park Press, making small editions and selling them, issuing at least one a month. Firman's book, The Codex, recently won a distinguished award at Miniature Book Society's miniature book competition in 2024. His books are in many reputable institutions and private collections.
Ovid in Latin & English
Santa Cruz, CA: The Good Book Press, 1983. [14] pp. Approximately 1 3/8 x 1 7/8". LIMITED EDITION of 150 copies, this being #142. Quarter bound in black Morocco leather and blue handmade paper over boards, gilt stamped title on cover letterpress, white paper handmade by Peter, two linoeum cut illustrations by Donna, black and red printing, in fine condition. (Bradbury, Peter & Donna Thomas, 10; P&D Thomas Bibliography A26)
Peter and Donna Thomas, well-known book artists, authors, and paper-makers, have been operating their private press since 1976. "The text is an excerpt...'add little to little and there will be a great heap.' We were invited to the first gathering of miniature-book publishers, held the summer of 1984 in Tipp City, Ohio. A fellow printer, Gene Holtan of Green Gables Press, suggested the text after we told him about the event and our plans to make a 'keepsake' book for it." From the bibliography of Peter and Donnas Thomas.
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."
The Papermaking Rhyme
Santa Cruz, CA: The Good Book Press, 1988. [36] pp. Approximately 1 7/8 x 2 15/16". LIMITED EDITION of 150 copies (edition not completed), this being #4. Purple handmade paper over boards with title in black on spine, paper sample insert on cover, letterpress, photographs are digitally printed, five paper samples tipped-in, in fine condition. (Bradbury, Peter and Donna Thomas, 25; P&D Thomas Bibliography A49).
Peter and Donna Thomas, well-known book artists, authors, and paper-makers, have been operating their private press since 1976. This text in this book is a play on the children's rhyme, "Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers." The photographs show Peter making paper.
Good Books: A Bibliography of the Books Made by Peter & Donna Thomas, 1978-1991
Santa Cruz, CA: Peter & Donna Thomas, 1992. 97 pp. Approximately 2 x 2 3/4". LIMITED EDITION of 200 copies, this being #195. Brown leather spine with two bands 1/4 bound over slightly worn marbled boards, gilt title on spine with a little wear, letterpress on publisher's handmade paper, illustrated by Donna, Tanya, and Suzanne Thomas, in near fine condition. (Bradbury, Thomas 41; P&D Thomas Bibliography A73)
A lovely binding and an interesting book with an introduction that details the start of the business and collaboration with others while learning their craft. Black and white illustrations throughout and a bibliography of their various miniature and larger books made by Peter and Donna Thomas from 1978 - 1991.
A Papermaking Safari to Africa
Santa Cruz: Peter & Donna Thomas, 1995. 2 1/2 x 3"; LIMITED EDITION of 100 of which the first 25 were deluxe editions, this being # 85, a regular edition with illustrations. Bound in crossed stab binding of handmade "Zebra Stripe" boards in a portfolio style case, two paper samples made in in Africa are missing, 15 line-drawn illustrations by Donna Thomas, letterpress printed on Peter's handmade "Zebra Stripe" paper, slight bowing to inside pages, in near fine condition. (Bradbury, Peter & Donna Thomas, 46; P&D Thomas Bibliography A80)
This is a story written by Peter Thomas during a trip in February 1995 about book and papermaking and the general state of affairs in South Africa and Zimbabwe.
The Dwarf — A Short History of a Short Man
Santa Cruz, CA: The Good Book Press, 1983. (44) pp. Approximately 2 7/8 x 1 3/8", oblong. LIMITED EDITION of 150 copies, this being #6. Brown leather over boards with title blind-stamped on cover, marbled endpapers, letterpress on handmade paper, 13 tipped-in illustrations by Donna, paper made by Peter, signed on the colophon. A fine copy, attractively produced. (Bradbury, Peter & Donna Thomas, 8; P&D Thomas Bibliography A24)
A poignant book, beautifully produced with a story about a short and ugly dwarf who felt lonely and rejected but found solace in the peacefulness and acceptance of nature. Later bindings have the title blind stamped on the cover. The type used was American Uncial, a short, squat typeface which inspired the format of the book.
Psalm 128
Santa Cruz, CA: The Good Book Press, 1985. (14) pp. Later edition. Approximately 1 3/4 x 2 7/16". LIMITED EDITION of 26 copies, this being # I. Brown leather over boards, gilt title on spine, inside white paper handmade by Peter, typography hand-set Barnhard Modern, illustrated with Peter's ornaments, numbered on the colophon, in fine condition. (P&D Thomas Bibliography A25)
This was the second book made for Donna's birthday. A second edition of 26 was printed for Mary Helen Dawson later that year. It was the same book in all respects except for changes to the colophon.
Old Testament Stories
Buffalo, NY: Breed, Butler & Co., 1862. 64 pp. Approximately 1 5/8 x 2 1/8". Brown pictorial gilt cloth with minor rubbing on edges, small spot on rear cover, old tape repairs on front and rear paste-down endpapers, all edges gilt, in very good condition. (Bradbury Antique: Breed, Butler & Co., 14)
The Aunt Fanny and Aunt Laura series resulted in thirty miniature children's books, which are high spots in any miniatur book collection. Frances Elizabeth Barrow, the author of these books, was a popular children's book author of the time. All of the books are attractively found in highly gilt cloth. There are five series and each series has six titles. As each series was published, the books were smaller in size.