New Arrivals
Journal of My 45th Ascension
Oakham, MA: Oakham Bindery, 1974. 77 pp. 2 7/8 x 2 1/8". LIMITED EDITION of 500 copies, this being #44. Decorated paper boards with quarter-bound leather, gilt title on spine, patterned endpapers, letterpress by Darrell Hyder, spine ends a little rubbed, otherwise in near fine condition. (Bradbury, Oakham Bindery, 2)
A lovely book about the first balloon flight in the United States, as evidenced by citizens and dignitaries, including George Washington.
Chronicles of Texas, A Sesquicentennial Momento, 1836 - 1986
(San Antonio, TX: Windcrest Press, 1986). (29) pp. 3 x 2 1/4". LIMITED EDITION of 25 copies, this being #19. Blue cloth over boards with metal flag on front cover, postage stamps tipped in, illustrations, signed by the author, in fine condition. (Bradbury, Windcrest Press, 2)
Valentine J. Poska is a librarian by profession who also publishes miniature books under his Windcrest Press Imprint. He also wrote other miniature books published by other publishers. He was an early member of the Miniature Book Society. This little book chronicles many important and trivia related events in the history of Texas, starting with Texas gaining its independence from Mexico and ending with Texas Sesquicentennial (with Dallas Cowboys superbowl wins and a political figures sprinkled in).
Ste. Ostrich in Manhattan: The Visitations of a Martyr
Berkeley: Flying Fish Press, 1990. 6 1/4 x 8"; LIMITED EDITION of 125, this being #58. Goldenrod cloth over boards with same color string to tie the book closed, paste down title label that wraps around from front cover to spine illustrated endpapers, colorful accordion folded pages that are hand sewn, beautifully illustrated by Lois Morrison, the pages open up to a 3-D visual and can even be removed from the cover to form an independent display, in near fine condition.
Designed and printed by Julie Chen and Elizabeth McDevitt. Calligraphy by Keith Vinson. Flying Fish Press was established by internationally known book art educator an book artist Julie Chen in 1987. From her website, " I view reading as an intimate act in which the reader must be in close physical proximity to the book, can control the pace of reading through the self-directed turning of pages, or equivalent action, and must interact with the book through the manipulation of the book’s physical structure." This is one of her earlier books.
Shaker Herbs: An Essay by Cynthia Elyce Rubin with 19th-century Shaker Herb Labels
(Northampton, MA): Catawba Press, 1984. Approximately 2 1/4 x 2 3/4 ". 40 pp. LIMITED EDITION of 155 copies, this being #36. Printed green paper boards with title and decorative border on cover, labels tipped in as frontispiece and throughout the text, in fine condition. (Bradbury, Catawba Press 1)
The only miniature book printed by Barbara Blumenthal of Catawba Press, the essay has been reprinted with the permission of the Museum of American Folk Art in New York City. The essay starts with a short history of the Shaker religion and their industries, which included agriculture, medicine, seeds, and foodstuffs. The latter part of the essay details the medicinal properties of the herbs that the Shakers used in their medicinal recipes. A beautiful little books, interspersed throughout with lovely Shaker herb labels for added interest.
Adlai: The Wit and Wisdom of Adlai Ewing Stevenson
Sausalito, CA: Castle Baird Press, 1993. 32 pp. Approximately 2 x 2 1/2 ". LIMITED EDITION of 75 copies, this being #32. Printed paper boards with design and lettering by Susan Acker and Mary McDermott at the Feathered Serpent Press, printed endpapers with the United Nations emblem repeated, US Postage stamp of Adlai Stevenson tipped in at front, Doonesbury cartoon by Gary Trudeau folded in, signed by both the author and publishers, in fine condition. (Bradbury, Castle Baird 3)
A brief but compassionate bio about Adlai Stevenson II (1900 - 1965), a Governor of Illinois, a U.S. Presidential Candidate, and a U.N. Ambassador.
Pax in Any Language Spells U.N.
Newport Beach, CA: Perky Co., 1984. Approximately 2 1/2 x 3 ". 27 pp. LIMITED EDITION of 200 copies, this being #101. Blue cloth over boards with gilt title and author on cover, letterpress by Castle Press, tipped-in flag reproduction, color illustrations, in fine condition. (Bradbury, Perky Co. 1)
From the colophon, "This book printed in the year of the 1984 California Olympics". It is the only book listed as being issued by this press, according to Bradbury. It is a sweet little patriotic book with a history of the United Nations and what it stands for.
Thomas Bewick, Vignettes from Birds, Quadrupeds and Fables, Memorial Edition
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.
Vincent in Arles: Four Letters to Theo
Velp, Netherlands: Catharijne Press, 2003. Approximately 1 7/8 x 2 1/2 ". 59 pp. DELUXE LIMITED EDITION of 20 copies (I - XX), this being #IV. Blue cloth slipcase containing a 5 euro coin showing van Gogh's portrait made up of the letters of his name; the coin was issued in 2003 by the Royal Dutch Mint in honor of the 150th birthday of Vincent van Gogh (1853 - 1890). Tan cloth over boards, blue endpapers, tipped in frontispiece and tipped in illustrations (color plates), printed in 6 point Swift font, in fine condition.
According to the publisher's introduction, "This miniature book is a tribute to the remarkable artist, reviled during his life, celebrated after his death." Even though Van Gogh wrote over 200 letters while staying in Arles, these 4 letters to his brother Theo give us some insight into his thought processes during this zenith of his career.
The Jumblies
(Shaker Heights, OH): Wind & Harlot, 1991. (38 pp.) 2 7/8 x 2 1/4"; LIMITED EDITION of 74 copies, this being # 17. Transluscent paper protecting pale green boards with printed title label on spine, marbled endpapers, 7 hand-colored illustrations by Bonnie Baris, printed on handmade Hayle paper from Barcham Green in England, in fine condition.
A charming little poem, and rather fanciful as well, about some people traveling on the sea in a sieve to the land of the jumblies. (Bradbury, Wind & Harlot, 10)
Hornblower and the Hotspur
London: Michael Joseph, 1962. 283 pp. 5 1/2 x 8"; Illustrated dustjacket, designed by David Cobb, in near fine condition with minimal edgewear and small enclosed tear at top of back cover, price of 18s net intact; Dark blue cloth over boards with gilt lettering on spine, in fine condition.
Cecil Louis Troughton Smith (1899 - 1966), pen name for C. S. Forester, was and English novelist best known for his 12-book fictional series about the Napoleonic Wars as seen through the eyes of the Royal Navy Office, Horatio Hornblower. Later books filled in the gaps in the early years of the story. This is the last full book, as the final book "Hornblower and the Crisis" was unfinished and published posthumously.