New Arrivals
![The Worsted Monster [Design Binding]](http://thebooklair.com/cdn/shop/files/002539_f5438008-95dc-46a6-81c0-69686fee5ad1_grande.jpg?v=1740450847)
The Worsted Monster [Design Binding]
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.
D'Ambrosio: The Book as an Art Form
Gualala, CA: North Light Gallery, 1983. Approximately 17 x 21". LIMITED EDITION of 100 copies, this being #60. Broadside is a serigraph image with text, signed and numbered in pencil by the artist, in fine condition.
Joseph D'Ambrosio (1934 -2009) was an American artist and binder. He left a career in engineering to pursue a new career in making artist’s books. He wrote, set type, printed designs, did the artwork and the binding. His books were considered works of art and were signed and numbered similar to limited edition fine art prints. D’Ambrosio also produced many broadside posters on fine papers that were issued in conjunction with his book projects and for special events. This broadside from 1983 is a promotional work for his book of the same title.
Record of Service of Connecticut Men in the Army and Navy of the United States During the War of the Rebellion. Compiled By Authority of the General Assembly Under Direction of the Adjutants-General.
New York: The Case, Lockwood & Brainard Company, 1889. 1071 pp. First Edition, quarter calf with burgundy cloth boards, gilt letters on spine with raised bands, minor rubbing to spine top and botton, some wear on bottom edges where heavy volume was pulled off shelf, interior slightly tanned but no marks, numbered black ink stamp "150" on bottom edge of pages. Overall, very good + condition. A very rare volume, still colorful and beautiful.
The New England state of Connecticut played a relatively small, but important role in the American Civil War, providing arms, equipment, money, supplies, and manpower for the Union Army, as well as the Union Navy. Several Connecticut politicians played significant roles in the Federal government and helped shape its policies during the war and the subsequent Reconstruction. This book is a must-have for a Civil War researcher in regards to the service personnel of Connecticut.
All About the Little Small Red Hen
Dallas, TX: Aredian Press, 2021. Approximately 2 1/4 x 2 3/4", 58 pp. First edition, LIMITED EDITION of 10 copies, this being #9. Design binding by Patrice Miller of Aredian Press, presented within a tan and brown checked sack with hand embroidered "red hen" scrim patch. Red leather 1/4 binding with hand-embroidered spine, patterened cloth over boards with printed label on front cover, ribbon bookmark featuring a tiny scissors charm, signed and numbered by the publisher on the colophon, fine condition.
Here is a beautiful rendition of a classic children's tale of an industrious hen outwitting a cunning fox. It includes eight watercolors and nine black and white illustrations by Johnny B. Gruelle. The publisher has hand-colored the half-title and main title page illustrations. Each copy of the edition is bound with a different combination of patterned fabric, spine leather and endpaper materials and treatment. 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.
Complete Miniature Set of the Sherlock Holmes Stories
Van Nuys, CA: Barbara J. Raheb, 1979 - 1981. Complete 45 volume set, each volume 15/16 x 5/8". Black pyroxylin covers with gilt titles and decorations, mini bookplate on verso of front free endpaper in each volume, all housed in a miniature bookcase with two pewter bookends, in near fine condition. (Bradbury, Raheb 141 - 182)
Barbara Raheb published more than 500 miniature books in her lifetime, more than any other U.S. publisher during the 20th century. This set includes the elusive four volumes of Hound of the Baskervilles. Limited edition of 300 per volume, it is very difficult to find a complete set. Arthur Conan Doyle (1859 - 1930) was a British writer and physician. Although the Sherlock Holmes stories are his most well-known works and are milestone in the field of crime fiction, he was a prolific writer who also created science fiction/fantasy, humor, romances, poety, non-fiction, and historical stories.
The Day of the Jackal
New York: Viking Press, 1971. 6 x 8 3/4". First US edition, first printing. Dust jacket with some creasing and rubbing, small enclosed tear on bottom of front cover, price clipped, very good condition. Red paper boards with grey cloth on spine, red blind-stamped design on cover, red letting on spine, top edge stained red, in near fine condition.
Frederick Forsyth (1938 - ) is an English novelist and journalist. He is well know for writing thrillers and this is probably his best known novel. It won the Best Novel Edgar Award in 1972 and is historical fiction.
Instant Lives
New York: Saturday Review Press/Dutton, 1974. Approximately 6 x 9 1/2". First Edition. Illustrated dust jacket and book illustrations by Edward Gorey, some extremely minor edge wear, slightly toned, not price-clipped, store sticker on inside front flap, in very good+ condition. Orange paper boards with tan cloth on spine, orange stamped lettering on spine, illustrated, very clean, in fine condition. (Toledano B58b)
Howard Moss (1922 - 1987) was an American poet, critic, and dramatist. He is credited with discovering a number of major American poets while being the poetry editor of The New Yorker. This book contains many vignettes about famous people but told in an amusing way - sometimes as biographies or made up stories in the type of language that author might have used. Dust jacket and 25 illustrations by Edward Gorey (1925 - 2000), an American artist and writer, best known for his eccentric imagery and stories, often set in Victorian and Edwardian settings.
Three Hearts and Three Lions
New York: Doubleday Science Fiction, 1961. Approximately 5 1/2 x 8 1/2". First Edition. Illustrated dust jacket by Edward Gorey, some creases, small nicks mostly to spine ends, minor rubbing, original price of $3.95 intact, in very good + condition. Red cloth over boards with gold stamped design on cover and gold/black stamped lettering and designs on spine, top edges red, really minor edge wear, slight corner bumping,small pen marks on rear cover, otherwise, in very good + condition. (Toledano D-Anderson)
Poul Anderson (1926 - 2001) was an American science fiction and fantasy writer. He was awarded three Nebula Awards and seven Hugo awards. This book is listed in Modern Fantasy: The Hundred Best Novels by Pringle as number #25. Dust jacket is illustrated by Edward Gorey (1925 - 2000), an American artist and writer, best known for his eccentric imagery and stories, often set in Victorian and Edwardian settings.
The Stone Arbor
Boston/Toronto: Little, Brown & Co., 1960. Approximately 5 1/2 x 8". First edition appearance of all thirteen short stories, dust jacked illustrated by Edward Gorey, some edge wear rubbing and small nicks, darkening of spine and small insect holes, unclipped jacket with $4.00 price intact, bookstore sticker on rear cover, in very good condition. Book has paper over boards, cloth spine which is fading on ends, some edge wear, small amount of spotting to top edges, otherwise in very good condition. (Toledano D-Angell)
Roger Angell (1920 - 2022) was an American essayist and fiction writer. He was The New Yorker's first fiction editor. This is his first book which is a collection of short fiction pieces and personal narratives. Dust jacket is illustrated by Edward Gorey (1925 - 2000), an American artist and writer, best known for his eccentric imagery and stories, often set in Victorian and Edwardian settings.
The Marshes of Glynn
Dallas, TX: Aredian Press, 2018. Approximately 2 3/4 x 3". First edition, LIMITED EDITION of 10 copies with two out of series, with this being #10. Design binding by Patrice Miller of Aredian Press; paper over boards painted with ink and watercolor by the publisher and each is unique in the series, interior papers are layered unryu which are digitally printed in 8 pt Poor Richard on pale blue ribbed vellum paper in brown/green/blue inks, constructed in three sections: the poem, in a perfect-bound matchbook style, the bio/stamp in a trifold within its own covers, and the central accordion tunnel comprised of vintage postcard images of the Glynn marshes, a band of natural straw slips off to open the volume, signed and numbered by the author on the colophon, fine condition.
Miniature Book Society, Distinguished Book Award, 2018. The Marshes of Glynn in moveable book format is a long poem about the Golden Isles off the coast of Georgia. The book contains the poem itself, a short biography of the author, Sidney Lanier, and a US postage stamp issued to honor him.