Ashendene Thucydides design binding by Michael Wilcox

I came across this unique binding by Michael Wilcox of one of my favorite books of all time, the Ashendene Press Thucydides.

The spear details on the top board edges is particularly charming.











(Pictures from a dealer listing. Click to embiggen.)

I love the understatedness and simplicity of the original plain pigskin, but this is impressive.

>1 abysswalker: This is phenomenal. Thank you for sharing.

I wonder if we should start a general thread for bindings. It could serve as a helpful resource for reputable binderies and DIY ventures, as well as a gallery of next-level artisanal bindings like this OP for people to enjoy.

Thank you for sharing. That’s impressive, to say the least. Seller added some interesting context which I believe is worth noting here also:

Wilcox described the artistic conception behind the “Thucydides” binding as follows:

Because Thucydides’ book is, quite rightly, described as a moralist’s work which does not contain the usual Greek obsession with gods and romantic heroes, I have tried, in my design, to avoid anything suggesting the outright glorification of war. Forming a somber background, the three-headed vulture, a monster with human-skull belly and wings that fan the burning crops of wheat, is intended to be an ashen symbol of the ravages of war—the kind of greedy and immoral war which is folly and leads to the mass slaughtering of innocent people and the wanton destruction of the land. I have placed Thucydides in the center of things, calmly recording all that is reported to him by eyewitnesses. The frieze-like pictures within frames do not refer to specific events but are abbreviations for showing a variety of activities that recurred generally throughout the war. Thucydides invented the speeches of his orators. My orators, on the spine, are caricatures representing common types: the hawk, the dogged agitator, the quixotic campaigner, and the dove (letter to Jeremy Norman, 21 March 2001).

>1 abysswalker: Thanks for sharing. Truly incredible
>2 a.friend: https://www.librarything.com/topic/355789#n8321754 This is an older thread from this forum about custom bindings commissioned by LibraryThing members.

>1 abysswalker: That is spectacular! A very fine case of the art.

Gorgeous. Thank you for sharing this.

Impressive, most impressive

>4 PBB: Thank you for linking this. I was thinking of creating a new thread with an OP that can continuously be updated with recommended binderies and materials sources. Ensuing posts could expound on personal projects and exceptional vanity bindings. I see it as a hybrid database and conversational thread. Maybe it would be best to continue from the one you linked. I will give it further thought. Thanks again!

Absolutely stunning. Thank you for posting the pictures.

Tom Taylor produced a beautiful book on Wilcox’s work called “Twelve Bindings,” printed in 225 copies with excellent photography and descriptions from Wilcox on what went into each. It’s worth a look—several copies for sale on ABE right now.

Speaking of Taylor, I just came across a lovely short film of him and Bradley Hutchinson talking primarily about the fine press books they made. The “video bibliography” begins around the 9-minute mark.

https://atxbookarts.org/wetookcare/

>1 abysswalker: I agree about the beauty of the original binding—and the printed pages themselves with the side notes in red are my favourite layout of the Ashendene folios

Spectacular is definitely the word that comes to mind! Thank you for sharing, that is something special.

This copy is going to auction in 10 days:
https://www.bonhams.com/auction/31200/lot/119/finely-bound-by-michael-wilcox-thu...

>14 PBB: I am probably in the minority here, but as technically and artistically impressive as that binding is, I don’t warm to it. It’s just too much! Give me the understated original binding any day.

I do love the spear detail on the top edge of the boards though!

>15 ChestnutPress: I'm with you. I also think it's a bit too much. I think removing the double-headed grey eagle and eyes would have made the cover more attractive -- just my opinion of course. But still remarkable, no doubt of that.