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In 1977 the first book bearing our imprint was published. Our goal was to produce a private press edition in miniature format. The Butterfly's Ball and the Grasshopper's Feast, was a success and sold out on publication. During the next twelve years, we published a total of eleven letterpress printed miniature books and three miniature manuscripts.
In 1984, Richard Bigus designed and printed the first detailed book about printing on vellum under our imprint. Each copy of The Mystique of Vellum includes a parchment specimen. In 2000, Strings Attached, Dorothy Abbe, Her Work and WAD, by Anne Bromer was published jointly by the Boston Public Library and the Society of Printers. The book is available at its original price of $75.00, most of the proceeds benefiting the Library.
Below are details of our publications in chronological order, noting the publication price for books in print. Out of print books become available from time to time. Check our inventory for specific titles.
| 1977 |
Miniature |
THE BUTTERFLY'S BALL AND THE GRASSHOPPER'S FEAST, by William Roscoe. Illustrated with original wood engravings by Sarah Chamberlain. This is Chamberlain's first commission.
A. Regular edition, 100 copies.
B. Deluxe edition, 25 copies in leather, with extra suite of illustrations in rear pocket. |
| 1977 |
Miniature |
POEMS OF LIFE, by Emily Dickinson.
Printed by William and Raquel Ferguson.
A. Regular edition, 100 copies.
B. Deluxe edition, 25 copies bound in vellum, with illuminated initials by Nancy Chandler Edwards. |
| 1978 |
Miniature |
NO. V-109, THE BIOGRAPHY OF A PRINTING PRESS, by Henry Morris. This is the first Checklist of the Bird & Bull Press.
A. Regular edition, 115 copies.
B. Deluxe edition, 35 copies bound in leather, with extra micro-miniature sheet tipped-in. |
| 1979 |
Miniature |
THE REMARKABLE HISTORY OF CHICKEN LITTLE, by John Greene Chandler.
Illustrated by Janet Hobbs.
A. Regular edition, 115 copies.
B. Micro-miniature edition, 50 copies.
C. Deluxe edition, 35 copies, comprising both formats in quarter leather bindings and slipcase. Hand-colored illustrations. |
| 1979 |
Miniature |
A BESTIARY, by Sarah Chamberlain.
Illustrated with original woodcuts by Chamberlain.
A. Regular edition, 90 copies. Two binding states: i) 25 copies in hand-painted paste papers with matching dust wrapper; ii) 65 copies in marbled papers with matching dust wrapper.
B. Deluxe edition, 35 copies bound in orange silk, with extra suite of engravings. Slipcase. |
| 1980 |
Miniature Manuscript |
AN ALPHABET BOOK, by Nancy Chandler Edwards.
Exquisitely painted manuscript fusing letters with objects.
30 copies completed from a projected edition of 40. Bound in blue morocco. |
| 1981 |
Miniature |
THE CASK OF AMONTILLADO, by Edgar Allan Poe.
Illustrated by Linnea Gentry.
A. Regular edition, 125 copies.
B. Deluxe edition, 35 copies in deluxe black inlaid morocco binding with box. Title and colophon hand-colored. |
| 1982 |
Miniature Manuscript |
TWELVE OF HEARTS, by Robert Gould and Colleen.
Edition of 36 copies, with paintings by Gould and calligraphy by Colleen.
Bound in white vellum. |
| 1983 |
Miniature |
THE ECLECTIC ABECEDARIUM, Edward Gorey.
This is Edward Gorey's first miniature.
A. Regular edition, 300 copies.
B. Deluxe edition, 100 copies, of which 80 were for sale. Hand-colored illustrations by Gorey and special binding with slipcase. |
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Miniature
In print at $275. |
CARMINA SAPPHICA, by Horace.
Only miniature of Ashendene Press.
150 copies printed on the Ashendene Albion handpress from the original photo-engraved plates of the Press. Bound as the extremely rare original edition (less then ten copies) in burnt orange morocco. Protective box. |
| 1984 |
Miniature Manuscript |
A GARDEN COMPANION, by Melissa Sweet.
Whimsical painted alphabet, incorporating the letters within a garden setting.
Edition of 30 copies. Bound in red morocco with the alphabet in gold on front cover. Protective box. |
| 1984 |
Miniature First Edition |
MARK TWAIN COMPLIMENTS THE PRESIDENTS WIFE, by Samuel L. Clemens.
A. Regular edition, 150 copies.
B. Deluxe edition, 50 copies bound in brown morocco, with hand-colored title and colophon. |
| 1984 |
Private Press Vellum
Regular edition in print at $550. |
THE MYSTIQUE OF VELLUM, by Richard Bigus, Decherd Turner, Colin Franklin, and Anne Bromer.
Printed by Richard Bigus.
A. Regular edition, 225 copies on handmade paper, with specimen sheet on parchment. Cloth binding and box.
B. Deluxe edition, 13 copies printed entirely on parchment, with specimen leaf on vellum. Illuminated initial lettering by Thomas Ingmire. Bound in burgundy morocco with suede-lined morocco folding case. |
| 1985 |
Miniature |
MINIATURE BOOKS DESERVE MORE RESPECT,
by Anne Bromer.
Edition of 750 copies in printed wrappers. |
| 1986 |
Miniature |
SHALL I DIE? SHALL I FLY?, by William Shakespeare.
Printed by John Kristensen, calligraphy by Suzanne Moore, binding by Donald Glaister.
A. Regular edition, 125 copies.
B. Deluxe edition, 35 copies with illuminated initials and in designer morocco binding with slipcase. |
| 1987 |
Miniature Catalog
Available at $45. |
35 MINIATURE BOOKS IN DESIGNER BINDINGS, 1987.
Full-color catalog designed by Gunnar Kaldewey. First collection of miniature designer bindings to be offered for sale. Represented are whimsical, typographic, abstract, and symbolic examples from the world's leading bookbinders. The catalog, housed in a plastic CD-type case, received a certificate of merit from the Printing Industries of America. We continue to commission designer bindings on miniature books and welcome your inquiries. |
| 1989 |
Miniature |
Q.R.V., by Edward Gorey. Edward Gorey's second and final miniature.
A. Regular edition, 400 copies.
B. Deluxe edition, 110 copies, of which 85 were for sale. Hand-colored in metallic inks. Housed in slipcase. |
| 2001 |
Private Press
In print at $75. |
STRINGS ATTACHED, by Anne C. Bromer.
Joint publication of the Boston Public Library and the Society of Printers. Designed by John Kristensen and printed at Wild Carrot Press. Binding by Paul Parisi.
Limited to 500 copies. |
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