1Glacierman
GEHENNA PRESS
The Gehenna Press is the private press of artist Leonard Baskin (http://www.leonardbaskin.com) and as such, the focus tends to be on his art. The Press has been in existence since 1942. Baskin died in 2000, at which point new work ceased, but the Press is still alive, sort of. They appear to be selling off the remaining stock, but I cannot say for certain, as I did not try to call the phone number given on the web site.
I own not a single Gehenna title and the price list below may give you an idea as to why. However, today's antiquarian market allows one to add a book or two for under $200, so things aren't as bad as they once were.
I will be posting various items each in their own post in this thread.
NOTE: These images cannot convey the feel of the wonderful papers these things are printed on. I wish they could. If you want a copy of the original JPG file of any of these, LMK in a PM and I will e-mail it to you.
The Gehenna Press is the private press of artist Leonard Baskin (http://www.leonardbaskin.com) and as such, the focus tends to be on his art. The Press has been in existence since 1942. Baskin died in 2000, at which point new work ceased, but the Press is still alive, sort of. They appear to be selling off the remaining stock, but I cannot say for certain, as I did not try to call the phone number given on the web site.
I own not a single Gehenna title and the price list below may give you an idea as to why. However, today's antiquarian market allows one to add a book or two for under $200, so things aren't as bad as they once were.
I will be posting various items each in their own post in this thread.
NOTE: These images cannot convey the feel of the wonderful papers these things are printed on. I wish they could. If you want a copy of the original JPG file of any of these, LMK in a PM and I will e-mail it to you.
2Glacierman
JEWISH ARTISTS
3Glacierman
This one measures 25" x 12.5". It is too long for one swipe on the scanner, so I had to make two and then spliced them together in PhotoShop Elements. This reduced image does not do it justice, but it is as big as Imgur can do other than full-size which is way too large!
Somebody on ABE wants $95 for their copy of this prospectus! Wow. Just WOW!
And now (1/28/2025) I see it offered at $250!!!!!!!!
Somebody on ABE wants $95 for their copy of this prospectus! Wow. Just WOW!
And now (1/28/2025) I see it offered at $250!!!!!!!!
4Glacierman
ONE MORE IMAGE TO BE ADDED LATER. I FORGOT TO SCAN THE BACK OF THIS ONE.
5Glacierman
A NICE LITTLE CATALOGUE FROM 1992. Size is 9.5" x 12.75", too big to do a double-page spread on my flatbed scanner, so I did one page at a time. This is a nice little catalogue of four leaves, not stapled. The paper is just lovely.
6dlphcoracl
The Gehenna Press is a classic case of The Good News and The Bad News. First........
THE GOOD NEWS: The Gehenna Press used exceptional handmade papers and their editions were printed letterpress by one of the greatest American pressmen of the 20th century - Harold McGrath. Additionally, many contain illustrations by the proprietor Leonard Baskin, a superior sculptor and artist.
And now........
THE BAD NEWS: The Gehenna Press is the "anti-Allen Press". Whereas Lewis and Dorothy Allen printed but one book per year for over a half century, nearly everything they published was of great literary interest, even obscure titles such as The Poeticon Astronomicon and Dialogues of Creatures Moralised. Conversely, The Gehenna rarely printed anything I found interesting with each edition more obscure and less vital than the previous one. What a shame!
However, the DlphcOracl is here to help separate the few kernels of Gehenna wheat from their mounds of chaff and a handful of titles are worth consideration.
1. The Shakespeare Series: Titus Andronicus and Othello.
2. The Coat Without A Seam. Sixty Poems 1930-1972 by Stanley Kunitz (1974). Kunitz was an exceptional poet who lived to be nearly 101 years old and his poetry was as vital late in life as it was in his earlier years. He was named the tenth Poet Laureate Consultant to the Library of Congress twice, one in 1974 and again in 2000.
3. Thirteen Poems by Wilfred Owen.
4. The Tunning of Elynour Runnynge: The Famous Ale-Wife of England by John Skelton (1953).
5. Hippolytos by Euripides (1969)
6. Capriccio by Ted Hughes (1990).
THE GOOD NEWS: The Gehenna Press used exceptional handmade papers and their editions were printed letterpress by one of the greatest American pressmen of the 20th century - Harold McGrath. Additionally, many contain illustrations by the proprietor Leonard Baskin, a superior sculptor and artist.
And now........
THE BAD NEWS: The Gehenna Press is the "anti-Allen Press". Whereas Lewis and Dorothy Allen printed but one book per year for over a half century, nearly everything they published was of great literary interest, even obscure titles such as The Poeticon Astronomicon and Dialogues of Creatures Moralised. Conversely, The Gehenna rarely printed anything I found interesting with each edition more obscure and less vital than the previous one. What a shame!
However, the DlphcOracl is here to help separate the few kernels of Gehenna wheat from their mounds of chaff and a handful of titles are worth consideration.
1. The Shakespeare Series: Titus Andronicus and Othello.
2. The Coat Without A Seam. Sixty Poems 1930-1972 by Stanley Kunitz (1974). Kunitz was an exceptional poet who lived to be nearly 101 years old and his poetry was as vital late in life as it was in his earlier years. He was named the tenth Poet Laureate Consultant to the Library of Congress twice, one in 1974 and again in 2000.
3. Thirteen Poems by Wilfred Owen.
4. The Tunning of Elynour Runnynge: The Famous Ale-Wife of England by John Skelton (1953).
5. Hippolytos by Euripides (1969)
6. Capriccio by Ted Hughes (1990).
