Barbara J. Raheb
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.
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.
Book of Dragons
Van Nuys, CA: Barbara J. Raheb, 1979. 56 pp. Approximately 5/8 x 15/16". LIMITED EDITION of 300 copies, this being #2. Black leather, gilt titles on spine and cover, previous owner's bookplate on front free endpaper, marbled endpapers, signed and numbered on the colophon, in fine condition. (Bradbury, Barbara J. Raheb, 129)
From Volksmarchen der Serben or Folk Tales of the Serbs. Beautifully illustrated.
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.
Dew-Drops Diary
Tarzana, CA: Barbara J. Raheb, 1980. 48 pp. Approximately 5/8 x 15/16". LIMITED EDITION of 300 copies. Green leather, brass clasp with little jewel, deluxe version with gilt titles on spine and cover, previous owner's bookplate on front free endpaper, decorated endpapers, in near fine condition. (Bradbury, Barbara J. Raheb, 211)
A lovely book of daily inspirations verses from the scripture. "My speech shall distill as the dew" Deut. 32:2 is also on the title page. A scarce deluxe copy of this edition.
Dracula's Guest
Van Nuys, CA: Barbara J. Raheb, 1979. 40 pp. Approximately 5/8 x 15/16". LIMITED EDITION of 300 copies, this being #21. Black pyroxylin, gilt titles on spine and cover, previous owner's bookplate on front free endpaper, marbled endpapers, signed and numbered on the colophon, in fine condition. (Bradbury, Barbara J. Raheb, 136)
From Project Gutenberg: A few months before the lamented death of my husband—I might say even as the shadow of death was over him—he planned three series of short stories for publication, and the present volume is one of them. To his original list of stories in this book, I have added an hitherto unpublished episode from Dracula. It was originally excised owing to the length of the book, and may prove of interest to the many readers of what is considered my husband’s most remarkable work. The other stories have already been published in English and American periodicals. Had my husband lived longer, he might have seen fit to revise this work, which is mainly from the earlier years of his strenuous life. But, as fate has entrusted to me the issuing of it, I consider it fitting and proper to let it go forth practically as it was left by him.
FLORENCE BRAM STOKER
The Book of Hours, a textual explanation of 15th century illuminated manuscripts
Van Nuys, CA: Barbara J. Raheb, 1979. 72 pp. Approximately 3/4 x 1 3/16". LIMITED EDITION of 300 copies, this being #91. Black leather cover with gilt titles on spine and gilt & jewel decorated cover, previous owner's bookplate on front free endpaper, decorative endpapers, illustrated, numbered on the colophon, in fine condition. (Bradbury, Barbara J. Raheb, 113)
Out of this edition of 300, some copies had hand-colored illustrations but this is not one of them. This is a brief explanation of the 15th century manuscript known as "The Book of Hours" They were a remarkable synthesis of the religious, artistic and secular life of the period. They were as much a status symbol of their time as they are today.
The Book of Psalms
Van Nuys, CA: Barbara J. Raheb, [1978]. 318 pp. Approximately 3/4 x 7/8". LIMITED EDITION of 300 copies, this being #6. Black pyroxylin cover with gilt titles on spine and cover, previous owner's bookplate on front free endpaper, decorative endpapers, illustrated, numbered on the colophon, in fine condition. (Bradbury, Barbara J. Raheb, 101)
The book of Psalms is primarily about worship, praise and prayer. It also expresses the trials and triumphs of life in pursuit of God. The most famous Psalm is likely Psalm 23 which starts out, "The Lord is my Shepherd..."
The Canterbury Tales
Van Nuys, CA: Barbara J. Raheb, 1978. 40 pp. Approximately 3/4 x 15/16". LIMITED EDITION of 300 copies, this being #23. Red 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, 88)
Barbara Raheb must have loved this book as it is printed, by her, in four separate editions, this being the earliest one: 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.
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)