New Arrivals
The Creation
Tarzana, CA: Barbara J. Raheb, 1981. 72 pp. Approximately 5/8 x 15/16". LIMITED EDITION of 300 copies, this being #51. Black pyroxylin with gilt titles on spine and cover, previous owner's bookplate on front free endpaper, marbled endpapers, illustrated, illustrated by Edward Burne-Jones, signed and numbered on the colophon, in fine condition. (Bradbury, Barbara J. Raheb, 281)
The illustrations in the book were made for an edition of "Bible Innocentium" which was to have been produced by the Kelmscott Press and would have contained upwards of two hundred pictures. Many were begun, but none quite finished. The designs contained herein have been modified from a horizontal to a vertical format and the book itself is based on a facsimile of the first edition published in 1902 by Longmans Greene & Co., printed by the Chiswick Press. (from the forward by Barbara Raheb)
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court
Tarzana, CA: Barbara J. Raheb, 1981. 31 pp. Approximately 5/8 x 15/16". LIMITED EDITION of 300 copies, this being #165. Burgundy pyroxylin with gilt titles on spine and cover, marbled endpapers, illustrated, signed and numbered on the colophon, in fine condition. (Bradbury, Barbara J. Raheb, 329)
Mark Twain's (1835 - 1910) humorous alternate history story, first published in 1889.
The Canterbury Tales
Agoura Hills, CA: [Barbara J. Raheb] Pennyweight Press, [1987]. 48 pp. Approximately 5/8 x 15/16". LIMITED EDITION of 300 copies, this being #92. Black leather with gilt titles on spine and cover, previous owner's bookplate on front free endpaper, decorative endpapers, illustrated, signed and numbered on the colophon, in fine condition. (Bradbury, Barbara J. Raheb, 367)
Barbara Raheb must have loved this book as it is printed, by her, in four separate editions: 1978, 1980, 1987, and 1993. The illustrations by Barbara Raheb are based on those printed in the Ellesmere Manuscript published in 1410. Geoffrey Chaucer (1343 - 1400) is known as the Father of English literature and this is his best known work.
Bambi. A Life in the Woods.
Agoura Hills, CA: [Barbara J. Raheb] Pennyweight Press, 1997. 48 pp. Approximately 15/16 x 5/8". LIMITED EDITION of 300 copies, this being #24. Brown pyroxylin, lettering and design in gilt on cover and spine, previous owner's bookplate on front free endpaper, illustrated, signed and numbered on the colophon. A fine copy. (Bradbury, Barbara J. Raheb, 482)
Felix Salten was born Siegmund Salzmann in Pest, Austria-Hungary (1869 - 1945). He was an Austrian author and literary critic but is best known for Bambi, which was adapted into an animated feature will by Walt Disney in 1942.
Confieso
(Brooklyn): Soraya Marcano, 1996. (8) pp. Approximately 1 13/16 x 3". LIMITED EDITION of 3, this being #1. Layered printed paper and cloth over boards, accordion fold, illustrated, a short lyrical poem in Spanish, signed by the publisher, in fine condition. (Bradbury, Marcano 5)
Soraya Marcano was born in Puerto Rico in 1965 and currently resides in Brooklyn, New York. Her work includes mixed media, writing, objects, and digital work. Marcano's scarce miniature artist's books are all written, illustrated, printed and bound by her using various techniques including collagraph, linocut, handmade paper, stenciling, etching, and computer generated images and type. Her mixed media artwork has been exhibited internationally and it is represented in various public and private collections. A beautiful book with a lyrical poem about the author confessing to having fully loved and lived life.
Old Christmas
Haslet, TX: Tony Firman Bookbinding, 2011. Approximately 2 1/4x 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.
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.