Larkspur Press

There was a terrific story on CBS Sunday morning today about Larkspur Press. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/handcrafting-books-larkspur-press-american-academy-...

Great piece. Thanks for sharing. Wonderful to see a craftsman in a rural setting doing what he loves. The press dogs were a nice bonus.

>1 varielle:

Wonderful!! Thank you for posting this.

I am a bit embarrassed to admit that I have never heard of nor come across books published by the Larkspur Press. However, in initially scanning their website and bibliography (and "slow" applies to more than just the pace of life in rural Kentucky and the Larkspur process of crafting hand made letterpress books - their website has the speed on a 1980 startup and their IP probably hasn't been upgraded in several decades !!) - there are numerous books of interest. I will probably pass on much of the poetry from rural Kentucky poets but some of the prose works are of great interest.

I love Larkspur Press and have reviewed their books a few times on my blog, like here:

http://www.thewholebookexperience.com/2015/04/12/roots-to-the-earth-by-wendell-b...

You can use the tag "Larkspur" to quickly find the others. Because they are small books of poetry and come in a couple of states usually, they are uniquely affordable for the quality of the presswork. The recent bibliography is fascinating as well.

I have a few of their small-format books by Wendell Berry: The Farm, A Consent, Andy Catlett. Nice, but not mind-blowing.

>3 dlphcoracl: Yes, it's very "old school" there: website '80s style (although there are plenty of photos), order by snail mail with cash, check, or barter (haven't tried this one...), or pick up the phone and probably talk to Gray directly. And it can be a nice chat depending on what's going on in the press...

New prospectus from Larkspur Press for Heresy, A Rime by Maurice Manning. Click each image for larger scans.

Interesting backlist...especially if you like poetry. Jeez, where would poets be without these small private presses??

Also, he gives links to the websites of several stores that carry his books. I found what I wanted in one of those and ordered online.

Larkspur put out some wonderful work. And at often ridiculously chea prices!

>8 Glacierman: Gray Zeitz is a highly regarded printer, and the subject of a recent book from Gaspereau Press, Makeready. Regardless of one's passion for poetry (or lack thereof), I think at least one Larkspur book should be in any fine press collection. My go-to recommendation from them is The Life of Zeno -- Diogenes Laertius, but there are a half-dozen other titles I can readily vouch for as well. The regular hardbounds are indeed fine bargains.

>10 Shadekeep: I purchased a Larkspur from Village Lights Bookstore in Madison, IN, which I accessed via a link on Gray's website. I bought a copy of Encounter, a series of letters between Thomas Merton and D. T. Suzuki. It is a hardcover.

Received the latest prospectus from Larkspur, it's a new Wendell Berry/Wesley Bates book for fans of either or both - The Stackpole Legend. Available in three states as usual, plus unbound sheets. The prospectus also comes with a sheet advertising available broadsides.

Incidentally, this is the 50th anniversary of Larkspur Press, so very happy anniversary to Gray and company!

>12 Shadekeep: Not on their website and I haven't seen a prospectus yet! Can you DM me(or post here) the cost for the special so I can send them a check?

>13 jveezer: Gladly, it's $145 plus $7 postage. It features marbled paper by Debbie Shannon over the boards.

The cloth edition is $32 with blue Japanese book cloth over the boards, and the paper wrapped edition is $22. Same shipping on those as well.

When I recently spoke with Gray Zeitz, he mentioned that he has not yet started printing the special edition of 98 copies on Megnani Velata paper. He anticipates starting next week and the copies can be ordered in advance through the mail. For those who would prefer to not mail Gray a check, there is a list of stockists on the website who may carry the book once it is printed: https://www.larkspurpress.com/contact.php

I like that there is a press or two out there where you still have to send a check, and pick up the phone and talk to the printer to really know what's up.

One day I hope to drop by with cash for some books, ha ha. While visiting a friend who just bought a farm in the area. That will feel apropos.

>16 jveezer: I enjoy that aspect of Larkspur as well. The couple of times I've spoken directly with Gray were especially pleasant.

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>13 jveezer: The new book is up on the website now as well, if you want to see photos. It's currently on the first page of the listings. The marbled papers on the special edition look great!

>19 Shadekeep: Any idea of the dimensions of the special?

>20 kermaier: Unfortunately not, it's not mentioned in the prospectus or on the website. I would guess it's of a similar size to previous editions, pretty much everything I have from Larkspur is in one of two sizes, apart from a couple oddities which have notably different layouts.

>20 kermaier: I just talked to Gray and the new book is a smaller title, it's 6-1/4" tall by 4" wide. I'm putting together an order for it and a couple other specials.

And I just realised that I should share the 50th anniversary broadside list, since there are a number of special offerings on it. Here's a scan, click for a larger version.

I'd buy every special available still if I had the cash. Never been disappointed in their books or their writers. Two Wendells headed my way...

I spoke to them today as well. I asked about Berry and it sounds like he's still a healthy 89 even if he can't hear much. He's still writing. Hopefully there's more Larkspur Berry in our future.

>24 jveezer: I've posted a pic of the latest acquisitions here: https://www.librarything.com/topic/356521#8585978

The Stackpole Legend is in the upper left and is smaller than most LP titles. That being said, it's comfortable in the hands and the text is well laid out. Nicely illustrated, too.

>25 Shadekeep: I got mine too. It's the same size to some of their past Berrys, like The Farm, A Consent, and One of Us. But they don't seem to care about binding them in series, nor do I. I think I have almost all the Berrys in special bindings.

>26 jveezer: Very good! And yes, there does seem to be a degree of randomness regarding book size, though perhaps the typeface and point size are chosen first and laid out, and those in turn dictate the book dimensions. I doesn't bother me either, just gives the books more hand-crafted appeal. These are actually the first specials I've gotten from Larkspur, quite pleased with them.

>25 Shadekeep: The marbled boards used for Heresy - A Rime are gorgeous, one of my favorite bindings that Gray has done recently. I do really love The Stackpole Legend as well.

>28 jbrnewman: Agreed! I also love that bubbling style used on the paper for A Rainbow.

A day's not all bad that has a Larkspur prospectus in it. Received the new one for Bound To The Moon.

Apology for the black-and-white scan, I can provide more details if they aren't readable. Click on it for a larger version.

This is indeed excellent news. I'm excited (and hopeful) to receive one of the same.

Received the prospectus for the next Larkspur title, You Are Not Far From Here. This one is of Gray's own poetry. Photos of the prospectus below, click picture for larger view.