At Bromer Booksellers, we focus on the visual book, with fine images that both enhance narrative and stand alone as independent creations. Among our holdings in this area are costume books, emblem books, examples from the Art Nouveau and Art Deco periods, the fantasy illustrators in the tradition of Arthur Rackham, and modern books with original graphics. We look for the successful fusion of picture with text from any century, any country, and across a variety of artistic movements and media. We are especially fascinated with books of other cultures, and you will occasionally find items such as Japanese illustrated woodblock books and Eskimo tales without words ...
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(N.p. c. 1860). Octavo. Single-sheet valentine. This "cobweb"-style valentine was so-named for its intricate lacework and circular central device, which, in this instance, is decorated with flowers. This circular element pulls out, creating a delicate, detailed peep show labeled, "Road to Happiness," which depicts two lovers sitting on a bench... More
1860. Single leaf measuring 5 by 7 3/4 inches. A drawing of a young man and woman glancing shyly at each other, with their noses drawn in an angular fashion so as to point at each other. Below the figures is penned words “i cant [sic] stop long this time.”... More
(The Netherlands: c. 1890). A late nineteenth-century chromolithographed and embossed Dutch postcard, measuring 5 3/8 by 3 1/2 inches (137x88mm). The postcard is made up of two layers, between which spin three wheels printed with the days of the week, dates, and months. The front of the card shows three... More
Boston: Damrell & Moore, 1854. 12mo. (8)ff. An 1850’s advertising pamphlet, printed by Damrell & Moore for the Oak Hall Clothing House in Boston. Contains a group of poems about the advantages of shopping at this “unrivalled emporium for gentlemen’s, youth’s, & little children’s ready-made clothing.” With seventeen wood engravings... More
Zurich: Maison Kratz, 1956. Lithographic print measuring 23 1/4 by 18 7/8 inches. One of 200 numbered copies, this one signed by the artist, with his name incorporated into a small drawing of a bull's head, and inscribed vertically, "For Martin Oberstein cordially 30 12 56." The lithograph is printed... More
(Stuttgart): Manus Presse, 1968. Quarto. (104)pp. One of 130 copies, signed by the artist. Illustrated with nineteen full-page lithographs from etchings by the surrealist Max Ernst. There are also three small vignettes. This is a bilingual edition of Carroll's nonsensical epic poem about a crew of ten men in pursuit... More
(Oakland: Eucalyptus Press, 1989). Folio. (6)ff. One of seventeen copies. Illustrated throughout with linoleum block prints altered so that the images in each book are slightly different. One two-page spread depicts the foolish villagers peeking over the edge of the soup pot with surprised expressions on their faces. Printed, illustrated... More
Hamburg: Frederic Perthes, (c. 1833). Octavo. vi, (104), 32pp. French translation of German fables by Wilhelm Hey, printed on rectos only and accompanied by charming wood engravings by Otto Speckter. According to Hobbs, these fables “were originally devised not for publication but to cheer up [the author’s] children, sick with... More
(Moscow: 1929). Six pen-and-ink drawings colored with watercolor, with an expressionistic look, each measuring 7 3/4 by 6 1/2 inches. These delicate, stylized illustrations are tinted with shades of orange, purple, and green. The first drawing has the title and illustrator’s name, Ausbrey, below it in Russian. The images recount... More
(N.P. Interprint, late 20th century). Quarto. 23pp. One of 300 copies designed by Sarah Janson. This book is dedicated to Nina Vaughan, who died in 1970 at the age of 25, shortly after completing the image around which the story is based. The fantastical picture and the accompanying story, "represents... More
NY: Smith & Haas, 1933. Octavo. First edition. Faulkner's last poetry collection published during his lifetime has a title-page vignette and dust wrapper illustration by Lynd Ward. In A William Faulkner Encyclopedia, Stephen Hahn writes that "The poems in A Green Bough are remarkable for the degree to which they... More
New Orleans: Pelican Bookshop Press, 1926. From a total edition of 400 copies, this is one of 250 numbered copies. First edition, first issue. With illustrations of Sherwood Anderson and other famous Creoles, by William Spratling. Bound in green boards. This copy bears the white label, one of three variants... More
(N.p. Ferguson, William, n.d.). Print measuring 10 1/4 by 13 inches. One of 76 copies. A windmill design in green and brown, with the words "arena," "monte," "cielo," and "nieve" on the four blades. SIgned by the artist. 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
(Decorah, Iowa: Solmentes Press), 2013. Folio. (39)ff. From an edition of thirty copies, this is one of ten deluxe copies in a stunning designer binding of full white pigskin. At the center of the spine extending over both covers sits an acrylic-painted bowl of chili, garnished with spicy sour cream... More
NY: Macmillan and Company, 1894. 12mo. 274pp. A unique copy with beautifully executed original pen and ink drawings throughout showing the sights and landmarks of Shakespeare's country. Profusely illustrated with hand-drawn vignettes of the thatched cottages of Stratford-upon-Avon, landscape vistas of Warwick and Windsor, and other known British locations. The... More
Middletown, CT: Wesleyan Art Laboratory, 1945-1966. A group of nine publications produced by the Wesleyan Art Laboratory. The Art Lab was Wesleyan's first studio art space, begun by Russell T. "Butch" Limbach, who arrived at the university in 1941 as an artist-in-residence. Limbach, whose work had been exhibited throughout the... More
Waltham Saint Lawrence: Golden Cockerel Press, 1926. Small quarto. 15pp. One of 250 numbered copies. The text is illustrated with six wood engravings by Eric Gill. The engravings are beautifully rendered interpretations of scenes from the last day of Jesus's life, from his vigil at the Garden of Gethsemane, to... More
Pasadena, CA: Archetype Press, 2005. Folio. (45)ff. One of 80 copies. Contains thirty-seven illustrations depicting American inventions ranging from the profound (Morse code, cloning, etc.) to the underappreciated (American cheese singles, flyswatter, etc.). Printed using "metal foundry type, wood type, linoleum blocks, laser-cut masonite, and digital polymer plates." Occasionally mixed... More
Flemington, NJ: St. Teresa's Press, 1970. Small quarto. 33pp. One of 125 copies printed on handmade paper. A beautiful book of familiar passages from the prophets, with a hand-illuminated title page and stylized opening initials in gold, silver, and other colors. Printed at the cloistered monastery of St. Teresa, this... More
Great Barrington, MA: Michael McCurdy, 2004. Quarto. One of eight copies. A suite of twenty-five laser prints of drawings by Michael McCurdy, each hand-colored, signed, and numbered by the artist. The drawings were originally done by McCurdy at the request of the University Press of Kansas, which commissioned the artist... More
(Hamburg): Raamin-Presse, 1982. Folio. xxxipp. From an edition of 220 copies, this is one of 40 copies signed by Quadflieg with an additional suite of the illustrations for the historiated initials printed on a single sheet, also signed by Quadflieg. Printed and illustrated with historiated initials by Roswitha Quadflieg. Grimm's... More
London: Golden Cockerel Press, 1952. Tall quarto. 80pp. One of 360 copies. Illustrated by John Buckland Wright with eight aquatints, printed from the copper plates. A lush example of Buckland Wright's style, with particularly impressive shading and detail not found in other instances of his work. Bound in green half-cloth... More
Ditchling: St. Dominic's Press, 1934. Small quarto. 79pp. One of 250 copies, signed and numbered by the author, Hilary D. C. Pepler. An essay written and hand-printed by Pepler for the Society of Typographic Arts in Chicago. Illustrated with two wood engravings by David Jones and many facsimile examples of... More
Alford, MA: 1962. Small quarto. 28ff. One of forty copies. Etched title page and twenty-six fine etchings by Fink, ranging thematically from portraits to botany to insects. Many of Fink's etchings have a decidedly Baskinesque aesthetic, but Fink's circle centered primarily in New York, where he was friendly with Jack... More
