In their broadest sense, the book arts are at the core of our inventory. To be sure, the category encompasses the specialties that you see on our homepage, such as Fine Printing, Fine Binding, and Illustrated Books. However, it also includes such things as writing books and calligraphy, fore-edge paintings, books on papermaking, and leaf books.
Read more about one of the book arts, Fore-edge Painting
Provincetown, MA: Provincetown Theater Company, (1990). Two broadsides, identical in design. Both signed by Gorey. These are alternate versions; the common version was issued both signed and numbered for sale to theater-goers. Because these, especially the larger one, are only signed, it is likely that they were used as actual..... More
(c. 1940-1945). Oblong 24mo. (30)ff. An autograph book made by Albert "Al" Cummings between 1940 and 1945. Includes messages in morse code, poems (good and bad), and cartoons from friends, neighbors, sailors on the SS Fairfax, and soldiers from the 32nd Ordnance Company identified as being from all around New..... More
Philadelphia: American Music Theater Festival, 1992. Quarto. (8)pp. Signed by Gorey. A program for the renamed revival of "The Tinned Lettuce", which premiered in 1985. Two years later the production would move to Broadway, with the title "Amphigorey: A Musicale". Crisp in white printed wrappers. Fine. More
(Hammersmith: Kelmscott Press, 1896). Folio. (556)pp. One of 425 copies. Contains 87 wood-engraved illustrations designed by Sir Edward Burne-Jones. William Morris, in addition to the "Chaucer" type designed expressly for this book, provided 26 nineteen-line initials, and numerous foliate and floral borders and initials. Burne-Jones called the book "a pocket..... More
(Hammersmith: Kelmscott Press, 1896). Folded sheet measuring 16 3/4 by 11 1/2 inches, comprising pp. 1-2, and 15-16 of the Kelmscott Chaucer. This bifolium contains the magnificent opening of the Canterbury Tales with the woodcut by Edward Burne-Jones showing Chaucer holding a book and a pen while standing in a...... More
Poestenkill, NY: Kaldewey Press, 2007. Octavo. (21)ff. One of twenty-one copies, inscribed by the artist, Gunnar Kaldewey, in addition to a signature at the colophon. A retelling of a Japanese folktale, lustrously illustrated with leaves of watercolors interleaved with uncut sheets of tissue. Stab-bound with rivets in red, blue, and..... More
(Vancouver): Heavenly Monkey, 2019. Square octavo. (64)ff. One of thirty copies, signed by Hodgson and Cohen at the colophon. An astonishing compilation of designs representing a study of patterns as individual specimens. Conceived as a successor to Hodgson and Cohen's other productions, including Decorating Paper (2015) and Folding Paper (2017)..... More
San Francisco: Allen Press, 1946. Quarto. 38pp., (16)ff. One of 300 copies, printed by Lewis and Dorothy Allen for the Book Club of California. With title and decorations by Mallette Dean. Contains a 30-page facsimile of the diary. Very fine in green, brown, and white patterned boards. Together with: Teggart..... More
NY: Vincent FitzGerald & Co., 1987. Quarto. (17)ff. One of 75 copies, signed by the translator, Michael Feingold, and the artist, Neil Welliver, whose five color etchings and double-page fold-out lithograph were printed by Shigemitsu Tsukaguchi. The translator served as the lead drama critic for the Village Voice until it..... More
NY: Vincent FitzGerald & Co., 1989. Folio. (32)pp. One of fifty copies, signed by the artist, Susan Weil. Throughout the text are scattered collages, papers, and etchings that work together to create an interactive, multimedia experience for the reader. In this way, the reader physically engages with the work in..... More
(Wakefield, Yorkshire): Fleece Press, (1986). Large quarto. (10)pp., + (19)ff. One of 200 copies printed from the original blocks on handmade paper. Illustrated with twenty wood engravings by Underwood that were cut in the 1920s and 1930s. Underwood's Brook Green School produced a great many accomplished wood engravers, among them..... More
(Wakefield): Fleece Press, 1988. Tall octavo. (78)pp. + 16ff. First edition. One of 300 copies. Illustrated with four tipped-in photographic plates, 59 wood engravings printed in various colors, and 16 copper engraved bookplates printed by the Meriden-Stinehour Press. Fine in cloth backed pastepaper boards, housed in cloth slipcase. (Rogerson 18)..... More
Northridge, CA: Lord John Press, 1981. 29 pp. From an edition of 400, this is one of 100 copies specially bound by Bela Blau. Signed by President Gerald R. Ford. The text of a September 1980 address given to the Visa International Convention in Quebec encouraging world peace for economic..... More
Glasgow: Robert and Andrew Foulis, 1756-58. Four quarto volumes. xi, 312; (iv), 336; (vii), 297; (iv), 336pp. Edited by Professors James Moor and George Muirhead, and printed throughout in Greek. This is the magnum opus of the Press. The brothers Foulis had a special font of Greek type cut by..... More
(Dallas: Ondine Press, 1977). Octavo. 19pp. One of 145 copies. Highlights an address given by Franklin at Perkins Chapel to mark the acquisition of the Sir Emery Walker copy of the Doves Press Bible printed on vellum by the Bridwell Library. Few marks to rear board, else fine in cream..... More
NY & London: Macmillan, (1974). Quarto. 159pp. One of 140 copies, signed by the artist. This copy is further inscribed by Frasconi and dated December 1976. Illustrated throughout with examples of Frasconi's woodcuts in black, white, and red and several full-color plates, this is an invaluable guide to the artist's..... More
(Salem: Colonial Society, 1939). First separate edition, which consisted of fewer than 100 copies. A single folded sheet with one page of type, printed by Dard Hunter II at the MIT Paper Museum Press. Inscribed by Frost to Martin K. Howes at foot of poem. Frost read this delightful piece..... More
Paris: Librairie Gründ, 1950. Quarto. 237pp., + 48 plates, nine of which are in color. One of 700 copies. This authoritative text and bibliography on the French “Game of the Goose” and its derivatives is illustrated throughout with images relating to the game, including many whimsical geese. The plates are..... More
1896-1905. A collection of nine color Christmas cards for the years 1897 through 1905, designed by Georgie Gaskin for Laurence W. Hodson and his family. The cards feature delicate vining borders intertwined with banners that extend the Christmas greeting for that year. The subjects of the cards include the Hodson..... More
1896-1905. 5ff. An original pen & ink drawing and two proofs, one hand-colored and one printed, plus a final printed copy of a Christmas card designed by Georgie Gaskin for Laurence W. Hodson and his family. The card is for the year 1896 and depicts Santa Claus, heavily laden with..... More
(Northampton): Gehenna Press, 1965. 16mo. (14)ff. One of 100 copies, signed by Leonard Baskin. After acquiring several Jan van Krimpen fonts in three sizes, modeled on chancery script, Baskin designed this book. It contains eleven mottos, each decoratively printed with different sizes of type in subtle variations of color. One..... More
(Northampton: Gehenna Press, 1968). Square octavo. 23ff. One of 250 copies, of which this is one of 70 in the first binding by Arno Werner, whose copy this was. Inscribed by Harold McGrath, the pressman, to Werner at the colophon. A collection of head and tailpieces from 16th- and 17th-century..... More
(Northampton, MA: Gehenna Press, 1967). Quarto. (31)ff. One of 250 copies, this one inscribed in pencil from Leonard Baskin to Ben Tighe, a well-known bookseller in the Northampton area. The inscription is curiously dated "1947" in Baskin's hand. Using the collection of type ornaments owned by Bruce Rogers, Baskin has..... More
1924. On paper measuring 6 1/4 by 5 3/8 inches (159x137mm), mounted to a bifolium sheet. One of six copies signed by Gill in graphite at the lower corner. This is one of eight of Gill's delicate white line engravings that is featured in Enid Clay's Sonnets and Verses, published..... More
Pinner: Private Libraries Association, 1991. Two octavo volumes. 184pp; (26)ff. From an edition of 1650 copies, this is one of three special copies printed for the authors, signed by Morris Cox and with a second volume of twenty-six specimen leaves. Inscribed by Colin Franklin. Contains a selection of the writings..... More
