The Great Illustrated Private Press Boks (TGIPPB) - Book #7
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1dlphcoracl
Book #7:
One of the Missing by Ambrose Bierce, Yolla Bolly Press, 1991. illustrated with 14 woodcuts by David Page.
One of the Missing is a collection of short stories of the American Civil War written by one of America's finest (although lesser known) authors. Unlike much of the literature written about the Civil War, Bierce's stories are amongst the few informed by direct battle experience, both as an enlistee and as an officer in command of troops. He was involved in some of the Civil War's fiercest battles including Shiloh, Chickamauga, and Sherman's March to the Sea - a brutal campaign conducted in the state of Georgia in which a "scorched earth" policy was followed, a precursor to the World Wars to be fought in the following century. Bierce was gravely wounded at the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain in 1864 and concluded the Civil War as a commissioned lieutenant. The stories in One of the Missing ring true and have an authenticity refelecting Bierce's battle experience. They are complicated and possess a duality, balancing the brutality, fear of death and failure with heroism, patriotism, boredom and the sheer exhilaration of battle. His short story 'An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge' is one of the finest short stories ever written by an American author. Following the Civil War Bierce moved to California, where he became a journalist renowned for his caustic, cynical columns.
The Yolla Bolly Press (YBP) is one of my favorites, with many similarities to another favorite - the Lewis and Dorothy Allen Press (the L&D Allen Press or simply the Allen Press). They were founded in 1974 by Carolyn and James Robertson, operating from a barnlike structure deep in the Coast Range mountains miles from the nearest town, about four hours north of San Francisco. Both were small private presses that began by doing commissioned work for others - in this case, the YBP printed trade books for the Sierra Club. Both were operated by husband and wife teams, with Carolyn and James Robertson responsible for the book design and contributing to the fine letterpress printing. Printing was done primarily be a gifted pressman named Aaron Johnson and bindings were outsourced. Both presses used the finest European handmade and mouldmade papers and materials and the printing was flawless. Illustrations were an important aspect of both presses and the YBP used primarily woodcuts and wood engravings from several notable artists.
The Robertsons published books that spoke to them, reflecting their deep concern and respect for the environment and their unabiding faith in the human spirit. They were avid readers and would spend months reading broadly to find authors and topics they wished to publish. After a decade of publishing small nicely crafted books, the YBP fully hit their stride in 1986 and, similar to the Allen Press, began publishing folio size books of extraordinary quality. Their first folio-sized book was The Winged Life: The Poetic Voice of Henry David Thoreau, edited and given commentaries by noted American poet Robert Bly, focusing on lesser known aspects of Thoreau's writings. They would continue publishing magnificent folio-sized books until James Robertson suffered a devastating stroke in 2001, dying shortly thereafter. The YBP would finish the books they were working on at that time, The Inner Galaxy by Loren Eiseley (2002) and Tears and Wine by Elio Vittorini (2001), their final publications.
Collectors Notes:
One of the Missing is an edition of 120 copies of which only 100 were for sale. 70 copies were standard with binding and slipcase covered in a fine black German cotton cloth. 30 copies were special editions with binding in full soft black sheepskin with a blind-stamped illustration of a crow perched on a tattered American flag on the upper front cover. It is accompanied by an extra suite of the 14 woodcuts by David Smith, each signed in pencil, with book and extra portfolio enclosed in a clamshell-style box handmade of archival board covered with black German cotton cloth. Text is printed in two colors by letterpress from metal type on mould-formed French Lana Gravure paper and the woodcut illustrations printed directly from the wooden blocks on a hand-operated press. This is one of the 30 special editions.
Photos to follow.
One of the Missing by Ambrose Bierce, Yolla Bolly Press, 1991. illustrated with 14 woodcuts by David Page.
One of the Missing is a collection of short stories of the American Civil War written by one of America's finest (although lesser known) authors. Unlike much of the literature written about the Civil War, Bierce's stories are amongst the few informed by direct battle experience, both as an enlistee and as an officer in command of troops. He was involved in some of the Civil War's fiercest battles including Shiloh, Chickamauga, and Sherman's March to the Sea - a brutal campaign conducted in the state of Georgia in which a "scorched earth" policy was followed, a precursor to the World Wars to be fought in the following century. Bierce was gravely wounded at the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain in 1864 and concluded the Civil War as a commissioned lieutenant. The stories in One of the Missing ring true and have an authenticity refelecting Bierce's battle experience. They are complicated and possess a duality, balancing the brutality, fear of death and failure with heroism, patriotism, boredom and the sheer exhilaration of battle. His short story 'An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge' is one of the finest short stories ever written by an American author. Following the Civil War Bierce moved to California, where he became a journalist renowned for his caustic, cynical columns.
The Yolla Bolly Press (YBP) is one of my favorites, with many similarities to another favorite - the Lewis and Dorothy Allen Press (the L&D Allen Press or simply the Allen Press). They were founded in 1974 by Carolyn and James Robertson, operating from a barnlike structure deep in the Coast Range mountains miles from the nearest town, about four hours north of San Francisco. Both were small private presses that began by doing commissioned work for others - in this case, the YBP printed trade books for the Sierra Club. Both were operated by husband and wife teams, with Carolyn and James Robertson responsible for the book design and contributing to the fine letterpress printing. Printing was done primarily be a gifted pressman named Aaron Johnson and bindings were outsourced. Both presses used the finest European handmade and mouldmade papers and materials and the printing was flawless. Illustrations were an important aspect of both presses and the YBP used primarily woodcuts and wood engravings from several notable artists.
The Robertsons published books that spoke to them, reflecting their deep concern and respect for the environment and their unabiding faith in the human spirit. They were avid readers and would spend months reading broadly to find authors and topics they wished to publish. After a decade of publishing small nicely crafted books, the YBP fully hit their stride in 1986 and, similar to the Allen Press, began publishing folio size books of extraordinary quality. Their first folio-sized book was The Winged Life: The Poetic Voice of Henry David Thoreau, edited and given commentaries by noted American poet Robert Bly, focusing on lesser known aspects of Thoreau's writings. They would continue publishing magnificent folio-sized books until James Robertson suffered a devastating stroke in 2001, dying shortly thereafter. The YBP would finish the books they were working on at that time, The Inner Galaxy by Loren Eiseley (2002) and Tears and Wine by Elio Vittorini (2001), their final publications.
Collectors Notes:
One of the Missing is an edition of 120 copies of which only 100 were for sale. 70 copies were standard with binding and slipcase covered in a fine black German cotton cloth. 30 copies were special editions with binding in full soft black sheepskin with a blind-stamped illustration of a crow perched on a tattered American flag on the upper front cover. It is accompanied by an extra suite of the 14 woodcuts by David Smith, each signed in pencil, with book and extra portfolio enclosed in a clamshell-style box handmade of archival board covered with black German cotton cloth. Text is printed in two colors by letterpress from metal type on mould-formed French Lana Gravure paper and the woodcut illustrations printed directly from the wooden blocks on a hand-operated press. This is one of the 30 special editions.
Photos to follow.
2dlphcoracl
Full leather binding with blind-stamped front cover:
10dlphcoracl
Macro photo #1:
11dlphcoracl
Macro photo #2:
12kdweber
Another gem from one of my favorite presses as well. Among the dozen or so YB books in my library, my favorite is Theseus by Andre Gide. Pretty much all of YB's books are on my wish list so no need to specifically add this one.
13Jan7Smith
This special edition is so enticing and the illustrations are the best and most fitting that I have seen anywhere. I also enjoy reading Bierce's novels...Soldiers and Civilians was a great read for me. I will put this on my wishlist and save my pennies for quite some time to purchase a copy.
14dlphcoracl
>13 Jan7Smith:
The woodcuts by David Page are quite special, conveying the brutality and horror of the U.S. Civil War in a way no other illustrations I am familiar with have. A nice edition of Stephen Crane's classic The Red Badge of Courage by the Gregynog Press used historical vintage photographs of the Civil War as illustrations and this was quite effective as well.
As an aside, the total number of deaths sustained by U.S. citizens (Union and Confederate combined) in the Civil War still dwarfs the number of deaths in World War II and the number of casualties (deaths + wounded) are nearly identical, this at a time when the population of the United States in 1861 was but a fraction of what it was in 1941 when the U.S. entered WW II.
The woodcuts by David Page are quite special, conveying the brutality and horror of the U.S. Civil War in a way no other illustrations I am familiar with have. A nice edition of Stephen Crane's classic The Red Badge of Courage by the Gregynog Press used historical vintage photographs of the Civil War as illustrations and this was quite effective as well.
As an aside, the total number of deaths sustained by U.S. citizens (Union and Confederate combined) in the Civil War still dwarfs the number of deaths in World War II and the number of casualties (deaths + wounded) are nearly identical, this at a time when the population of the United States in 1861 was but a fraction of what it was in 1941 when the U.S. entered WW II.
15gmacaree
Another one I definitely need. The illustrations, as pointed out in >13 Jan7Smith: and >14 dlphcoracl: are sublime. Finding a full-leather copy seems quite challenging, though.
16dlphcoracl
>12 kdweber:
When I think of the Yolla Bolly Press I cannot help thinking of "what could have been" had not James Robertson died in his mid-60's following an acute stroke. After a decade doing trade books for the Sierra Club and another decade as an independent private press publishing relatively small books focused on California and poet Robinson Jeffers, they finally hit their stride in 1991 with their folio size books Zapata by John Steinbeck and One of the Missing by Ambrose Bierce. The five folio books that followed - Theseus, My First Summer in the Sierra, The Man Who Died, Bread of Days and The Winged Life (Henry David Thoreau) were as good as it gets and almost surely there was more to come.
When I think of the Yolla Bolly Press I cannot help thinking of "what could have been" had not James Robertson died in his mid-60's following an acute stroke. After a decade doing trade books for the Sierra Club and another decade as an independent private press publishing relatively small books focused on California and poet Robinson Jeffers, they finally hit their stride in 1991 with their folio size books Zapata by John Steinbeck and One of the Missing by Ambrose Bierce. The five folio books that followed - Theseus, My First Summer in the Sierra, The Man Who Died, Bread of Days and The Winged Life (Henry David Thoreau) were as good as it gets and almost surely there was more to come.
17dlphcoracl
>15 gmacaree:
"Finding a full-leather copy seems quite challenging, though."
Challenging and pricey. Incidentally, the special editions of the YBP folio-sized books are something else. In particular, the special editions of The Man Who Died, Bread of Days, and My First Summer in the Sierra are special, indeed.
"Finding a full-leather copy seems quite challenging, though."
Challenging and pricey. Incidentally, the special editions of the YBP folio-sized books are something else. In particular, the special editions of The Man Who Died, Bread of Days, and My First Summer in the Sierra are special, indeed.
18MobyRichard
I have a copy of the deluxe if anyone is interested. Traycase sunned. Book near fine. PM me an offer.
19gmurphy
>16 dlphcoracl:
Lovely book. I also have their other folio-sized books (with the exception of 'Bread of Days' which is not really my cup of tea) and they are all exceptional.
I'd also like to recommend one of their much smaller books-'The Man Who Made Wine' (1996) which has a lovely illustrated story written by J.M. Scott.
Lovely book. I also have their other folio-sized books (with the exception of 'Bread of Days' which is not really my cup of tea) and they are all exceptional.
I'd also like to recommend one of their much smaller books-'The Man Who Made Wine' (1996) which has a lovely illustrated story written by J.M. Scott.
20dlphcoracl
>20 dlphcoracl:
Following your post, I reread 'The Man Who Made Wine' today and I had forgotten what a marvelous short story this is, entirely typical and representative of the underlying spirit of James and Carolyn Robertson that underpinned the Yolla Bolly Press editions. For those unfamiliar with this marvelous private press, their smaller books published prior to their large folio editions remain quite affordable and well worth seeking out.
Following your post, I reread 'The Man Who Made Wine' today and I had forgotten what a marvelous short story this is, entirely typical and representative of the underlying spirit of James and Carolyn Robertson that underpinned the Yolla Bolly Press editions. For those unfamiliar with this marvelous private press, their smaller books published prior to their large folio editions remain quite affordable and well worth seeking out.
21gmacaree
>19 gmurphy: >20 dlphcoracl: May I add the Saroyan short story collection The Daring Young Man on the Flying Trapeze to the recommendation list? I picked it up for cheap not knowing what I was getting into and it was magnificent.
22kdweber
>19 gmurphy: >21 gmacaree: I have to smile as The Man Who Made Wine was my first Yolla Bolly Press purchase while The Daring Young Man on the Flying Trapeze was my second.
