New Arrivals
1890 Almanac
Tarzana, CA: Barbara J. Raheb, 1980. 32 pp. Approximately 5/8 x 15/16". LIMITED EDITION of 300 copies. Red pyroxylin, lettering and design in gilt on cover and spine, previous owner's bookplate on front free endpaper, illustrated. A fine copy. (Bradbury, Barbara J. Raheb, 183)
A beautiful miniature reproduction of the original Piso pocket almanac.
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.
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 View from Mt. Dana
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.
Wildflowers of the John Muir Trail
Santa Cruz, CA: Peter & Donna Thomas, 2002. (40) pp. Approximately 2 1/8 x 2 5/8". LIMITED EDITION of 150 copies, this being #60. Green painted handmade papers over boards, title and illustration label on sleeve cover, inside white paper made by Peter from cotton rag and Donna's hiking shirt, digital printing with reproduction of text handwritten by Donna, reproductions of thirty-nine watercolor paintings by Donna, numbered on the colophon, in fine condition. (P&D Thomas Bibliography A109)
Donna Thomas and Kate McLaughlin hiked the John Muir trail in 2002. They identified flowers and Donna printed them on the spot. This beautiful book was a Miniature Book Society Distinguished Award winner in 2003.
Sinking to Heaven
Lake City, CO: Ravenpress, 2001. (Box) Approximately 1 1/2 x 3 x 2". LIMITED EDITION of 25 copies, this being #12. Outer box is dark wood with decorative brass onlays, in fine condition; Color copies from watercolor paintings with Mohawk Superfine text that are laminated to museum boards with burgundy and orange ribbons, two-sided, six paneled Jacob's ladder construction, numbered and signed on the colophon by the publisher, in fine condition.
This is the second book in the miniature pillow book series. Bailey uses evocative language and richly erotic imagery to refer to passions that remain indescribable. Alicia Bailey began publishing under the Ravenpress imprint in 1996. Ravenpress publications are held in private, public and special collections worldwide. Bailey thinks of the artists' book works she creates as interactive sculptures realized in the form of the book. She works in a wide variety of materials, including those not often associated with the book form, thus necessitating structural redesign and innovations.
There are Names for Those Acts (Which We Long to Perform)
Lake City, CO: Ravenpress, 2001. (Box) Approximately 1 1/2 x 2 5/8 x 13/16". LIMITED EDITION of 25 copies, this being #11. Outer box is dark wood with brass decorations, in fine condition; Accordion hinged boards with paste and marbled papers, book opens to 2 x 9", color laserprint from original watercolors, numbered and signed on the colophon by the publisher, in fine condition.
This is the first book in the miniature pillow book series. Based on the traditional instructional pillow books given couples on their wedding night, this two-sided accordion contains six secually explicit watercolors paired with six physical and spiritual descriptions of the 'embraces of love' taken from ancient Asian texts. Alicia Bailey began publishing under the Ravenpress imprint in 1996. Ravenpress publications are held in private, public and special collections worldwide. Bailey thinks of the artists' book works she creates as interactive sculptures realized in the form of the book. She works in a wide variety of materials, including those not often associated with the book form, thus necessitating structural redesign and innovations.
Belladonna
Aurora, CO: Ravenpress, 2005. Approximately 1 3/8 x 1 3/8". LIMITED EDITION of 25 copies, this being #9. Cosmetics case, with printed foil label, slightly worn with small bits of foil missing, in very good condition; Three accordion miniature books have polymer clay covers with laser print transfer, illustrated, numbered and signed on the colophon on the back of the case by the publisher, in fine condition.
Created as part of a series using cosmetic tools and containers as structure, this piece contributes to an ongoing commentary on the harms of the cosmetic industry. Three accordion books detail various aspects of the Belladonna plant (Deadly Nightshade). This plant, although toxic, has been used medicinally and as an aid to beauty as its ingestion enlarges the pupils of the eye (a look that indicates sexual arousal and is known as 'bedroom eyes'). Alicia Bailey began publishing under the Ravenpress imprint in 1996. Ravenpress publications are held in private, public and special collections worldwide. Bailey thinks of the artists' book works she creates as interactive sculptures realized in the form of the book. She works in a wide variety of materials, including those not often associated with the book form, thus necessitating structural redesign and innovations.
Re-rooting
Lake City, CO: Ravenpress, 1997. [18] pp. Approximately 1 3/8 x 1 3/8". LIMITED EDITION of 26 copies, this being #26. Paper covered box with wood, shell and bone sculpture on lid in fine condition; miniature book has paper covered board with bone, seed, ribbon closure, 5 illustrations, laserprint on paste paper and chiri tissue, signed and numbered on the colophon by the publisher, in fine conditon.
The text is excerpted from Donna Jackson's poem Re-rooting, © 1991. Bailey says that this book references her own awareness of union with earth and questions the notion of ever leaving the natural world. Alicia Bailey began publishing under the Ravenpress imprint in 1996. Ravenpress publications are held in private, public and special collections worldwide. Bailey thinks of the artists' book works she creates as interactive sculptures realized in the form of the book. She works in a wide variety of materials, including those not often associated with the book form, thus necessitating structural re-design and innovations.