In his introductory essay to The Gehenna Press: The Work of Fifty Years, Colin Franklin cites a contemporary interview Leonard Baskin had given in which he stated that “People like me who care about printing, constitute the tiniest lunatic fringe in the nation.” Judging from the range of those whose projects has been influenced by Baskin’s book work—whether directly or indirectly—that fringe has grown into a tapestry.
Inspired by Michael Kuch’s solo show, "Angels & Emblemata: Monotypes, Oils, and Intaglios by Michael Kuch," on view in our Gallery through May 4th, 2023, we took a deep dive into our shelves and assembled this list of work by illustrators and printers whose graphic sensibility derived from studying or working with Baskin—a list that, in addition to Kuch, includes Barry Moser, David Godine, Gillian Tyler, and others. Even from this relatively small sampling, one can see the deep, indelible impression Baskin left on the world of fine printing.
1973. Lithographic print, 22 inches tall by 16 inches wide, printed on Arches paper. One of fifty, signed by the artist. Leonard Baskin was an American artist, sculptor, and printmaker. He founded the Gehenna Press while still a student at Yale, and he taught at Smith College in Massachusetts from..... More
Northampton, MA: Gehenna Press, 1969. Folio. (70)pp. From an edition of 200 copies, this is an out-of-series printer's copy inscribed by Leonard Baskin to Arno Werner, who bound the book. One of the major productions of Baskin's Gehenna Press. Illustrated with ten etchings by Baskin, nine of which are signed..... More
(Rockport, ME): Gehenna Press, 1998. Folio. (65)pp. From an edition of fifty, this is one of ten deluxe copies, accompanied by a page of Hecht's manuscript, three watercolor drawings by Baskin, one of the original woodcut blocks, and a suite of woodcuts printed in black with several hand-colored by Baskin..... More
London: Faber and Faber, 1978. Oblong quarto. (63)pp. First trade edition. Inscribed by Leonard Baskin, whose stylized drawings provide a dramatic illustration of Hughes's poem sequence. The effect, as the jacket copy rightly describes it, is a "haunting combination of word and image." Baskin, the renowned sculptor, artist, and founder..... More
(Northampton, MA): Gehenna Press, 1958. Small quarto. (12)pp. One of 100 copies. Signed by George Lockwood, who contributed the wood-engraved frontispiece. Leyda's poem about Emily Dickinson's Amherst, Massachusetts home is interspersed with the words from the deed, which are printed in red. An uncommon Gehenna title, this copy shows some..... More
(Leeds, MA): Gehenna Press, 1989. Quarto. (13)pp, (25)ff. One of thirty-eight copies. A collection of etchings of cats by the Italian artist Anna Maria Bartolini, some of which are printed on pink mulberry paper and tipped in. All are signed by the artist in graphite. Some of the cats are..... More
Northampton, MA: Gehenna Press, 1973. Folio. (68)ff. Illustrated with twelve full-page etchings and sixteen wood engravings by Leonard Baskin. According to the Gehenna Press bibliography, from a planned edition of 400, including 150 deluxe copies with extra suites and 250 regular copies, only the latter regular edition copies were ever..... More
Easthampton, MA: Warwick Press, 1995; 1994; 1991. Three volumes: 32mo., 24mo., and small 8vo. (7); (4); (12)pp. Caesarean is one of 120 copies, featuring the titular poem by Peter Fallon, who founded Ireland's Gallery Press. Signed by Blinn and Fallon. Bound in wrappers with paper label to upper cover. Night..... More
Easthampton, MA: Warwick Press, 1989; 1991; 1994; 1998. Four small 8vo volumes. 26; 35; 59; (14)pp. The War Zone is one of 50 copies, signed by Barr and the printer, Carol Blinn, and with an additional inscription from Blinn at the colophon. Bound in Japanese Chiri paper over boards. Natural..... More
(Easthampton, MA): Warwick Press, 1987. Quarto. (4)pp., accordion-fold. One of twenty copies signed by Carol Blinn, who wrote, illustrated, and printed this book. A poem by Blinn is accompanied by a watercolor illustration that extends across the central page spread, depicting three yellow balls floating on a cerulean pool surrounded..... More
Easthampton, MA: Warwick Press, 1989; 1978. One12mo. volume and one small 8vo volume. (68); 12pp. A Fowl Letter Book is one of 225 copies signed by the author/artist/printer, Carol J. Blinn. A Poultry Piece is one of 250 copies, likewise signed by Blinn, with four hand-watercolored line illustrations. The pair..... More
Easthampton, MA: Warwick Press, 1986; 1976. Two small octavo vols. 30; (13)pp. From Stripper to Publisher is one of 125 copies, signed by Blinn and the photographer, Robert Lyons, and with a special multi-colored colophon inscription stating, "A little extra color for Hugh's copy with lots of love from Carol."..... More
Easthampton, MA: Warwick Press, 1984-2003. Eight volumes. Variously paginated. All of different limitations, but the possibility of this full run is one of 45, designated by the edition for Book Eight. All books signed by Fitzenmeyer and Blinn. The continued collaboration between the two artists resulted in this happy series..... More
(Thetford, VT): Cricket Press, 1965. Quarto. (12)ff. One of twenty-two copies. Subtitled "The First Miracle, John 2," the book tells the story of the Wedding at Cana. The text is printed in red, and faces the tipped-in illustrations. Heavily influenced by Leonard Baskin's early work, there are nine exquisitely fine..... More
Boston: Impressions Workshop Inc./Cricket Press, 1965. Square quarto. (16)ff. One of 150 copies, signed on the colophon page by the poet, Bernard Bockes, and the illustrator, George Lockwood. Illustrated with fifteen fanciful woodcuts by Lockwood depicting insects, bats, dragons, and mythical beasts. Some are monochromatic prints, but others incorporate many..... More
(Thetford: Cricket Press, 1967). Quarto. (6)ff. One of forty-two copies, conceived, illustrated, and executed by Gillian Tyler. A short narrative poem printed on pale green paper, and illustrated with a single wood engraving in the style of Leonard Baskin, who was Tyler's teacher at Smith College. Internally fine, bound in..... More
Northampton, MA: Gehenna Press, 1963. Elephant folio. (24)pp. One of 150 copies, signed by the illustrator, Rico Lebrun, and by the engraver, Leonard Baskin, below the colophon and on the prints. Lebrun's illustrations evoke the raw emotion and bare-bones humanity and animality of Melville's tale. Pages held loose in unbound..... More
Northampton, MA: Gehenna Press, 1970. Small octavo. (28)pp. One of fifty copies, signed by the artist, Leonard Baskin. Illustrated with a frontispiece etched portrait of Alfred, Lord Tennyson, by Baskin and four additional etchings that accompany Tennyson's poem. The title is cut in wood and printed in red from the..... More
Prague, Czechoslovakia and Vestal, NY: Robert Marx and Ivan Ruzicka, 1966. Octavo. (28)ff. One of twenty-five copies, signed by the artist, Robert Marx, and the translator and binder, Ivan Ruzicka, below the colophon, and initialled by Marx on the title page. Marx’s etched portraits of old women, all numbered and..... More
Cambridge, MA: Bow & Arrow Press, 1993. Small quarto. (iv), 16pp. Deluxe edition, one of fifty copies, signed by the author, Melinda Marble, and artist, Michael Mazur, and with two original drypoint etchings. This first book by Marble is the haunting tale of a girl troubled by her origins, and..... More
(Pasadena): Vance Studley, 1997. Oblong 32mo. (8)ff. unbound booklet + 18 sheets of engravings, each signed by Moser. One of twenty copies. Cut in Resingrave and printed on Karma paper, the engravings collected here depict animals from across the globe in astonishing detail. Moser, as only he can, shows each..... More
NY: Serigrafia Limited, (1990). Elephant folio. (7)ff. One of 300 copies. A set of six illustrations crafted and signed by six different artists: Barry Moser, Maurice Sendak of Where the Wild Things Are, Chris Van Allsburg of The Polar Express, Seymour Chwast, Daniel Pelavin, and Guy Billout. The range of..... More
West Hatfield: Pennyroyal Press, 1982. Two folio volumes. 150pp.; xxv, 160pp. Each one of 350 copies signed by Barry Moser. Alice is illustrated with 75 wood engravings by Moser, and Through the Looking-Glass contains 95 engravings by Moser. Some of the engravings are full-page plates, while others are beautifully integrated..... More
(Pasadena): Vance Studley, 2005. One of twenty copies. Six engravings, each signed and numbered by Moser. These images portray dogs and cats (usually separately, but in one instance together and surprisingly at peace) with nobility and familiarity. The prefatory sheets show, on the first, a Dogon Greeting and publication information..... More
Easthampton, MA: Pennyroyal Press, 1977. Tall octavo. 61, (4)pp., + foldout at rear. One of 175 copies, signed by Mariani and Moser at the colophon and inscribed by Moser to Vance Studley at the title page. The rear foldout presents in series Moser's five wood engravings, which also punctuate Mariani's..... More
