New Arrivals
Aircraft Markings
n.p. n.p., ca. 1930s. Full vellum binding, illustrated with watercolors, 2 x 2 1/4", [28] pp., vellum slightly soiled, front endpaper with small tear at hinge, in very good condition.
An informative manuscript describing the wing and rudder markings of aircraft from the United States, Latin America, Asia, and Europe. Most of the markings date from around the end of World War I, charting the rise of military aviation. The wing marking included under the description "U.S.A. Navy" is the first National Aircraft Insignia for Naval aircraft, which was only used from 1917 to 1918. The symbol was then changed to resemble the markings of the other Allied Powers and to distinguish itself from the enemy. Interestingly, no markings are included from countries within the Central Powers. The illustrations and miniscule text have been executed with military-like precision. A fascinating view into the history of aviation. No copies in OCLC.
A Miniature Book, Tie, and Suspenders from the estate of Julian Edison
New York: Abrams and The Grolier Club, 2007. Miniature edition and exact facsimile of the larger book "Miniature Books: 4,000 Years of Tiny Treasures" by Bromer & Edison; Maroon silk tie with white/gold/red tiny books from His Favorite Tie Neckwear housed in original plastic box packaging; Navy silk suspenders with red/green/gold books and bronze clasps from Paul Stuart, made in England, all from the estate of Julian Edison, all in fine condition.
Julian Edison (1929 - 2017) was an internationally renowned miniature book collector and co-author with Anne. C Bromer of Bromer Booksellers. Julian was an influential support of Washing University Libraries in St. Louis and the Special Collections there has been renamed the Julian Edison Department of Special Collections.
Italia
Seattle, WA: Sam Garriott Antonacci, 2019. One-of-a-Kind Artist Book. Single sheet fold-out pasted down to rear endpaper which shows mosaic illustration of Italy in prismacolor and ink on Thai Unryu paper, 2 1/4 x 2", blue cloth over boards with illustrated front panel; housed in matching clamshell box with layered illustrated cover, completed with two more boxes with printed book details and label, all in fine condition.
According to Sam Garriott Antonacci: "I see many of my books as histories or small personal documents of people, places, or objects." This miniature book is a beautiful homage to Italy, done in the soft Tuscan colors you would expect representing the Italian countryside, with excellent detail paid to the craftsmanship of the enclosing boards and boxes. Sam primarily does one-of-a-kind and limited edition books, mainly miniatures. She was raised in the Ohio River Valley on a rural farm so solitude and nature inform her work. She went to the University of Indiana at Bloomington and art school in Seattle, where she settled when she wasn't traveling - a favorite pastime of hers that also greatly influences her work.
Medieval Labours
Sorbie, Scotland: Final Score, 2007. Approx. 2 x 2 5/8". LIMITED EDITION of 25 copies, this being #3. Brown cloth over boards with gilt-bordered paste-down label on cover, each copy individually illustrated using egg tempura paint on vellum with gold, signed on the colophon by both authors, in fine condition.
This beautiful book contains 13 illuminated illustrations accompanying each month of the year plus the title page. The text describes the work to be completed for each month in medieval times. For example, January described bread baking with a medieval recipe, while June talks of estate management. Only one OCLC holding at this time, from the collection of Muriel Underwood - a US Marine, member of the Caxton Club, longtime member of the Miniature Book Society and miniature book publisher herself.
I Love You
Munich: Waldmann and Pfitzner, 1952. Approximately 5 x 5 mm. Red leather binding with gilt decorations on covers, housed in a Plexiglass case with an inset magnifying glass, printed in 4-point type in nine languages: English, German, French, Italian, Chinese, Russian, Arabic, Portuguese and Spanish, in fine condition. (Bromer & Edison, P. 117)
This book was part of a 4 volume collection called "Die kleinsten Bücher der Welt" which translates to The Smallest Books in the World. These were commissioned by Walter Schatzki, a Jewish bookseller who settled in New York City in 1937 after fleeing Nazi Germany. He is sometimes attributed as the publisher. Schatzki became an authority on rare children's books and assembled one of the most famous catalogs of children's books ever created by an American bookseller.
Important Titles
Seattle, WA: Tablula Rasa Press, 1992. Unpaginated. Approximately 2 1/4 x 2 1/8". LIMITED EDITION of 200 copies, this being #89. Cloth and pictorial paper boards with decorative illustraions on front cover, marbled endpapers. A fine copy. (Bradbury, Tabula Rasa Press, 68)
A humorous collection of what blank books might be titled, such as "To Hell with Dante", "Lutke Fisk as an Aphrodesiac", and "Choreographic Emphasis on Baton Twirling Among Members of the LAPD", among others.
A Small Collection, Fauna/ Flora/ Fists/ Follies
Oxford, England: The Alembic Press, 1990 - 1992. Four volumes, each 1 1/2 x 2". Marbled paper over boards with various color cloth spines, titles on spine either in gilt or paper label, limited to 100 copies each, all numbered #70 on the colophon, letterpress, in fine condition with fine marbled paper slipcase.
Nearly all the Alembic Press's books are about, or illustrate, aspects of letterpress printing, type, illustration, or paper and bookbinding. A Small Collections of Fists (1990) shows various sizes and styles of fists that printers have used from early days to draw attention to certain texts. A Small Garden of Flora (1991) shows various printer's flowers from the Alembic Press collection. A Small Farm of Fauna (1992) show various animal letterpress blocks with a loose concern with endangered species. A Foible of Follies (1992) shows typographical blocks that have "proved so far to be of little or no practical use whatsoever." A beautiful set of books sure to please anyone.
Springtime a la Carte, Mamon and Archer, Last Leaf
Hyattsville, MD: Rebecca Press, 1988. 3 volumes, each 2 x 2 9/16". Textured homemade paper over boards (mauve, purple, dark green), beautiful endpapers, metallic slipcase, title on cover and spine, photocomposed, small illustrations, handsomely bound by Donald Brady, illustrated by Edith Caro, Limited edition of 200 copies, each volume numbered and signed by publisher Rebecca Bingham, in fine condition. (Bradbury, Rebecca Press 17-19)
Rebecca Saady Bingham has been designing and publishing miniature books since 1983. Her beautiful books are best known for their artistic details in the illustrations and bindings. She has complete control over the whole process, from choice of subject, to book design and types of materials used. These delightful books tell three short stories by O. Henry, a pseudonym of William Sydney Porter (1962 - 1910), an American author whose tales romanticize the commonplace, often set in New York City.
The Wayward Bus
New York: Viking Press, 1947. 312 pp. Approximately 5 1/2 x 8 1/4". Pictorial jacket is in very good condition, with some wear, slight chipping of the spine, tape repairs to the inside of the jacket, original price of $2.75 intact. Dark reddish-orange cloth over boards with crisp lettering on cover and spine, blindstamp on front cover a lighter shade then the rest of the binding, top is not stained green and there is no book club dot so likely some variant of first printing, slight edge wear to covers especially along the bottom edges, stained on the upper page edge corners, otherwise in very good condition. (Goldstone & Payne A23a)
Originally thought to be one of Steinbeck's weaker novels, it was actually financially successful. The interesting thing about it is that no one single character in the book dominates. Rather, the viewpoint shifts from one character to another quite frequently, with access to the character's thoughts through an internal monologue. Adapted to film in 1957 to some success at the box office, it starred Jayne Mansfield, Joan Collins, Dan Dailey and Rick Jason.
The Short Reign of Pippin IV
New York: Viking Press, 1957. 188 pp. Approximately 5 1/4 x 8". First Edition, first state of dust jacket. Illustrated dust jacket in very good condition with minor edge wear, some rubbing, publisher's price of $3.00 on the front flap; Strawberry cloth over boards with heraldic blind-stamping, yellow spine with red printing but discolored/darkened slightly, top stain red, pages clean and bright, in very good condition. (Goldstone & Payne A36a)
Generally considered as one of Steinbeck's lesser books, this book did become popular enough to be a book-of-the-month selection. This is Steinbeck's only work of political satire and tells the story of an amateur astronomer, Pippin, who is proclaimed King of France. He spends most of his time trying to avoid any responsibilities and deal with hangers-on with inherited money. Much of the satire is clearly relatable to today's people and politics as well.