Fine Print Time Machine #13: Vol. 4, No. 3, July, 1978
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1Glacierman
Previous Posts in this series:
# 1: Fine Print Time Machine: 1975 (vol. 1, nos. 1 & 2)
# 2: Fine Print Time Machine: 1975 (vol. 1, nos. 3 & 4)
# 3: Fine Print Time Machine: 1976 (vol. 2, no. 1)
# 4: Fine Print Time Machine: 1976 (vol. 2, no. 2)
# 5: Fine Print Time Machine: 1976 (vol. 2, no. 3)
# 6: Fine Print Time Machine: 1976 (vol. 2, no. 4)
# 7: Fine Print Time Machine: 1977 (Vol. 3, No. 1)
#8: Fine Print Time Machine: 1977 (Vol. 3, No. 2)
#9: Fine Print Time Machine: 1977 (Vol. 3, No. 3
#10: Fine Print Time Machine: 1977 (Vol. 3, No.4)
#11: Fine Print Time Machine: 1978 (Vol. 4, No. 1
#12: Fine Print Time Machine: 1978 (Vol. 4, No. 2
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NOTE: I’ve been posting these notes on Fine Print for some time now, and thought it might be time for a review of why. For those who may not know what Fine Print was, it was a journal devoted to the book arts that was established by Sandra Kirschenbaum in San Francisco. Originally called a ‘newsletter,’ the first issue of but 8 pages appeared in January of 1975. Many predicted it was doomed to failure, but it quickly grew to a fairly substantial journal of 32 or more pages. Its last regular issue was Vol, 16, No. 3, July 1990. Vol. 16, No. 4 was issued in 2003 as a full index of the journal.
This publication was instrumental in keeping the fine press movement alive during the time of its publication. Its failure was not due to lack of content or subscribers, but to financial problems not directly associated with the journal itself.
In addition to articles on the various book arts—design, illustration, bookbinding, printing, type design—by experts on the topic, it featured reviews of select fine press books as well as what was basically a running catalogue of press books. It is these book notices upon which I concentrate in these “Time Machine” posts. Included among the presses noted are not only well-known presses, but also some who have since faded into obscurity, but whose works are still well worth collecting as examples of the private press movement. I thought it worthwhile to bring to the attention of today’s collectors the presses—however small or obscure—that were operating thirty-five to fifty years ago in the hope that there might be found within these posts something to spur an interest in the presses of those days gone by. To that end, I continue with the latest installment.
=========
The lead article is a fine one by Barry Moser, On Wood Engraving. It is an excellent article as is to be expected, and one well worth reading. In fact, it would be worthy of reprinting as an illustrated chapbook.
This article is followed by a shorter one on pochoir illustration by Frances Butler. The not quite four columns of text are followed by a short representative list of books so illustrated as well as a list of books suggested for further reading.
RECENT PRESS BOOKS
Five Trees Press. San Francisco, CA. 1977. Denise Levertov. Modulations for Solo Voice. 13 x 7 ¾ in; (32) pp. 300 copies total. Bembo type on Rives paper. Quarter ochre oasis leather case binding, with marbled paper sides; hand-sewn headbands; 50 copies, $75. 250 copies on Curtis Colophon paper; wrappers, $10. Reviewed by Maria Epes: “...This book is pure and simple elegance backed with fine craftsmanship.” Ed. note: Maria was associated with Adrian Wilson and his press, The Press in Tuscany Alley.
The Janus Press. West Burke, VT. 1977. James Reeves. The Closed Door. 9¼ x 6¼ in.; 12 pp. Hand set Walbaum on Twinrocker paper. Printed at the Janus Press in Newark, VT, by Susan Johanknecht and Claire van Vliet to Anthony Baker at The Gruffyground Press, Landram, Sident, Winscombe, Somerset in England. Brown calf spine with rose lilac marbled boards, 75 copies, $50. 165 signed copies in brown french-folded Fabriano wrappers, £6.50. Favorably reviewed by Wesley B. Tanner.
Kingait Press. Cape Dorset, Baffin Island, NWT, Canada. 1977. The Printers of Kingait Press. The Inuit World: An Annotated Black Print Illustrating Wildlife, Weapons, Tools, and Objects of Everyday Life, With Names in English and Inuktitut Languages. 13¾ x 9 in.; 26 pp. 1000 copies. Text in 14 pt. Van Dijck Roman and Italic. Tan Fabriano wrappers with title printed on upper cover; woodblock print enclosed in blue envelope; hinged box also of blue paper; labe pasted on spine. $75. Glowing review by Linnea Gentry: This “first little piece of bookwork” from the Kingait Press is one of the most remarkable successes of printing ever to have come to our attention...Moreover, the book itself, The Inuit World, is a technically and aesthetically superb piece of printing....
ED. NOTE: Copies of this book currently go for around $250. Methinks thou shouldst spring for one if it be within the grasp of thy purse.
=========
The next four books were reviewed as a group by Kathy Walkup because they all have in common an apprenticeship with Walter Hamady (Perishable Press). They all passed muster.
Purgatory Pie Press. Prospect Hills,IL. 1977. Timothy Cohrs. The Eerie Shore Letters (poems). 7 x 5 in; (36) pp. 49 signed copies. Small photo silhouette illustrations. Spectrum type on several colors of papers homemade by the printer. Self wrappers. $10.
The Red Ozier Press. Madison, WI. 1976. Diane Wakoski. George Washington’s Camp Cups. (poem). 9 x 6½ in.; (14) pp. 150 signed copies. Kennerly and Spectrum types in red and brown on Frankfurt Cream paper. Wrappers of white Miller and Anderson handmade paper. $15.
Sea Pen Press and Paper Mill. Seattle, WA.
1977. Beth Bentley. Philosophical Investigations. (poems). 30 signed copies. 6½ x 6½ in.; (14) pp. 30 signed copies. Line drawings on front & back foldout leaves. Caslon type in russet, pale purple, and blue on Mochizuki paper. Title printed on mauve self wrappers mad by the printer. $40.
1976. Joan Stone. Alba. (poems). 7 x 10½ in; (28) pp. Centaur type printed in red, green, and brown on various shades of green paper handmade by the printer. Blind stamped covers; Japanese binding. 20 copies, $28. 10 copies with jade cedar bark covers, $37. 60 copies printed on Frankfurt Cream, $21.
=========
The Press in Tuscany Alley. San Francisco, CA, Adrian Wilson, prop. 1978. Robert Louis Stevenson. A Child’s Garden of Verses. With 9 poems not published in prior editions. Intro by Janet Adam Smith. 10 x 6¼ in; 129 pp. 500 copies printed by Adrian Wilson assisted by Maria Poythress Epes, Jerry Reddan, Adriane Bosworth, and Myra Levy. Type set by Mackenzie-Harris in Centaur and Arrighi types. Printed on Arches Laid Text; bound by Schuberth Bookbindery.Green linen spine with decorative paper sides. $90. Luke warm review by Kit Currie.
BOOKS IN SHEETS
S. Gale Herrick. San Francisco, CA. 1978. Hand Bookbinding Today, an International Art. 36 x 27 cm; 94 pp. The exhibition catalog from the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Untrimmed sheets, $12 ppd. This is the catalog for the exhibition mentioned in the previous issue (see FP Time Machine #12). It was also made available bound in wrappers, 2500 copies, gratis. I still have my copy of that catalogue, although it is a bit the worse for wear. It is worth getting a copy as it showcases some interesting and some beautiful bindings and is rather affordable, with copies going for $6.00 to $30.00 in wrappers. Oak Knoll has a re-bound copy in boards for $38.
The Press of the Nightowl. Baton Rouge, LA, Dwight Agner, prop. 1977. Charlotte Garrett. Presences. (poems). 19 x 13 cm; 29 pp. Joanna type on handmade Maidstone paper. Sheets. $15. Note: See “Books Received” below.
BOOKS RECEIVED
Bios Press. Albany, CA. 1978. Hilda Doolittle. Kora & Ka. 19.5 x 9.5 cm; 42 pp. 100 copies. Printed by Wes Tanner with Caslon type on Curtis Utopian paper. Bound in green cloth; dust jacket, $25. Wrappers, $5.
Brandstead Press. Carlisle, Ontario, Canada.
1977. Madzy Brender à Brandis. April Snowstorm. 14 x 11 cm; 36 pp. 60 copies total. 13 charming wood engravings of farm scenes. Kennerly and Della Robia types on homemade paper by G. Brender à Brandis. Rough-hewn binding in Irish linen cloth and slipcase, 20 copies, $40. 40 copies on handmade Tovil paper, $30. Comment by Linnea Gentry: “Type is badly over-inked.”
1977. Clare MacCulloch, ed. Larkspur and Lad’s Love. (homosexual poetry). 27.5 x 21.5 cm; 56 pp. 120 copies. 19 linocuts. Kennerly type on Hale handmade paper. Bound in multicolored roughly-woven cloth, slipcased, $100; batik cloth binding, $85. Comment by Sandra Kirschenbaum: “Layout and back-up faulty; the linocuts are cumbersome and show through annoyingly.”
Four Winds Press. Locust Valley, NY. 1977. Edward Lear. A Lear Song with a foreowrd by Philip Hofer. 19.5 x 23 cm; (14) pp. 150 copies. Lear’s nonsense song, The Broom, the Shovel, the Poker and the Tongs together with a separate facsimile of the original letter-manscript in back cover pocket. Palatino type on Basingwerk paper. Green leather spine with paste papers by Carol J. Blinn over boards. $30.
The Halfpenny Press. Madison, WI. 1977. John Fandel. The Small Event. (poems). 35 x 16.5 cm; (16 pp). 120 copies. 3 small squarish etchings abstractly reflecting the poetry. Venus Sans Serif type on Rives paper. Gray handmade self-wrappers. $12; signed, $17.50.
Janus Press. West Burke, VT, Claire van Vliet, prop.
1977. W. R. Johnson. From Actium. (poems). 26 x 18cm; (14) pp. 75 copies. Printed black with violet titles in Gudrun Zapf’s Diotima type on French-folded Fabriano paper. Bound in purple cloth with original lithograph by Claire van Vliet on upper cover. $20.
1977. John Theobald. A Second Light. (poems). 26 x 18 cm; (14) pp. 75 copies. Printed black with blue titles in Diotima type on French-folded Fabriano paper. Bound in navy cloth with original lithograph by Claire van Vliet on upper cover. $20.
Comment by Sandra Kirschenbaum: “Matching volumes of fine poetry in stunning bindings; beautifully designed and printed.”
Manroot. South San Francisco, CA. 1978. James Broughton. Song of the Godbody. 24.5 x 16 cm; (14) pp. 226 signed copies. Tipped in as frontispiece is an original photograph of the author, unclad. (Ed.: Oh, Hell yes! Just what I want to see.) Caslon Old Style type on ivory paper. Self-wrappers. $12.
The Press of the Nightowl. 1977. Charlotte Garrett. Presences. (poems). 19 x 13 cm; 29 pp. Joanna type on handmade Maidstone paper. 20 copies, quarter leather with marbled boards, $25. 180 copies on Warren’s Olde Style paper with Tweedweave covers, $5. Ed. Note: This was offered in unbound sheets up above, obviously from this 180 copy issue.
The Press of the Pegacycle Lady. Los Angeles, CA. 1977. Edward Roditi. Meetings with Conrad. 20 x 13.5 cm; 18 pp. 200 copies total. Art Nouveau decoration on title page. Cochin and Cochin Italic types on Warren’s Olde Style paper. Gray printed paper boards, 174 copies, $16; 26 copies on handmade Ashling paper, $45. Note by Susan Spring Wilson: “A schoolboy memoir of having met Conrad. Ashling paper of the more expensive edition attractive in color but grain direction is wrong, causing paper to spring stiffly. The sprightly two-color design shows to better advantage on the Warren’s Olde Style though the inking is inconsistent.”
The Pittsburgh Bibliophiles. Pittsburgh, PA. 1978. Herman Melville. Bartleby. 30 x 22.5 cm; 57 pp. 250 copies. Four reproduced drawings by Norton Peterson. Janson type printed offset on Colophon text paper. Green cloth binding. $30. Reviewer note: “Nicely printed; adequate trade cloth binding.”
The Polyglot Press. Lexington, KY, 1976. The Song of Songs Which is Solomon’s. 32.5 x 28 cm. 70 copies. 8 sheets of Arches paper, six of which have colorful floral serigraphs by Grace Perreiah pasted within black border above text inuppr case Forum type. Laid loose in folder; cloth spine. $65.
Rams Head Press. Chicago, IL. 1978. P. J. Spitzmueller. Pattern from a Floating World. 18 x 13 cm; single sheet accordion-folded into sixteen panels. 31 copies. Pasted-on samples of marbled paper alternating with poetic phrases descriptive of marbling process. End panels attached to marbled paper boards; enclosed in drop-back box. $30; w/o box $16. Press located at the Newberry Library.
Charles Seluzicki. Baltimore, MD. 1978. Charles Simic School for Dark Thoughts. Poems, 23 x 16.5 cm; 15 pp. 235 signed copies. Garamond type on Weimar paper sew into blue Roma paper covers. Printed by Banyan Press, Pawlet, VT. $22.50. Note: A continuation of Seluzicki’s enlightened policy of commissioning fine presses for poetry books.
The Upstairs Press. Kentfield, CA.
1977. Virginia Woolf. Thoreau. 22 x 17 cm.; (20) pp. 100 copies. Caslon type on a smooth wove paper. Pink Fabriano wrappers. $3.50. Book was available at Serendipity Books, Berkeley. First separate printing of an article published in 1917 by the London Times Literary Supplement on the occasion ofthe centenary of Thoreau’s birth.
1977. Mildred Bissinger. The First Six. Poems. 19.5 x 17 cm; (16) pp, 59 copies. Centaur type with Goudy Capitals on Rives paper. Blue Fabriano wrappers; title printed on pasted white label. $2.20.
THE REFERENCE SHELF
Goudy, Frederic W. Typologia; Studies in Type Design & Type Making. Berkeley: Univ. of California Press, 1977. Illus. 8vo. Xviii +170 pp. Cloth, $15; paper, $3.95. Reprint of 1940 edition. Reviewer Alexander Lawson gave it a thumbs up.
Leif, Irving F. an International Sourcebook of Paper History. Hamden, CT: Archon Books, 1978. 8vo. 160 pp. Cloth, $17.50.Reviewer John Bidwell considered it a sloppy bibliography with plenty of room for something better.
Owens, L. T. J. H. Mason 1875-1953, Scholar-Printer. London: Frederick Muller Limited, 1976. Illus. 4to; xvi + 192 pp. Cloth, £9.75. Positive review by Joseph Blumenthal. Mason was a prominent figure in the fine press movement, starting at the Ballantyne Press in London. He was also involved with the Doves Press for 10 years and was then a teacher at the Central School of Arts and Crafts in London and eventually became the director of the printing school there. Mason also assisted Harry Kessler at the Cranach Press. He was a major figure in the fine press scene of the time.
Stone, Reynolds. Reynolds Stone Engravings. Brattleboro, VT: The Stephen Greene Press, 1977. Illus. 4to, xli + 156 pp. Cloth, $65. Reviewed by Stephen Harvard. Book shows 550 of Stone’s engraving. Thumbs up!
Thompson, Susan Otis. American Book Design and William Morris. NY: Bowker, 1977. Illus, 4to; vxii + 250 pp. Cloth, $29.95. Joseph Dunlap, reviewer: “This is an important pioneering work, admirably elucidating a hitherto partially comprehended field, and treating for the first time one of the several areas in American art and thinking that felt the influence of William Morris. It is a handsomely produced volume, thanks to Alice Koeth – a pleasure to read and useful for reference”. I own this book and heartily concur!
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Part II of Paul Hayden Duensing’s article on private type faces occupies three pages. Part I was in the previous issue. Topics covered here: engraved matrices, hand-cut punches, machine-cut punches and electrodeposited matrices. For type geeks.
NEW PRESSES
Nice long article from Kingait Press (supra) on their history and operation. This is, in itself, well worth reading.
THAT WRAPS UP THIS ENTRY, leaving one more issue for 1978 and my bound volume. It will be a spell before I get to the unbound issues, but I will get them done. Eventually.
-RLH
# 1: Fine Print Time Machine: 1975 (vol. 1, nos. 1 & 2)
# 2: Fine Print Time Machine: 1975 (vol. 1, nos. 3 & 4)
# 3: Fine Print Time Machine: 1976 (vol. 2, no. 1)
# 4: Fine Print Time Machine: 1976 (vol. 2, no. 2)
# 5: Fine Print Time Machine: 1976 (vol. 2, no. 3)
# 6: Fine Print Time Machine: 1976 (vol. 2, no. 4)
# 7: Fine Print Time Machine: 1977 (Vol. 3, No. 1)
#8: Fine Print Time Machine: 1977 (Vol. 3, No. 2)
#9: Fine Print Time Machine: 1977 (Vol. 3, No. 3
#10: Fine Print Time Machine: 1977 (Vol. 3, No.4)
#11: Fine Print Time Machine: 1978 (Vol. 4, No. 1
#12: Fine Print Time Machine: 1978 (Vol. 4, No. 2
=========
NOTE: I’ve been posting these notes on Fine Print for some time now, and thought it might be time for a review of why. For those who may not know what Fine Print was, it was a journal devoted to the book arts that was established by Sandra Kirschenbaum in San Francisco. Originally called a ‘newsletter,’ the first issue of but 8 pages appeared in January of 1975. Many predicted it was doomed to failure, but it quickly grew to a fairly substantial journal of 32 or more pages. Its last regular issue was Vol, 16, No. 3, July 1990. Vol. 16, No. 4 was issued in 2003 as a full index of the journal.
This publication was instrumental in keeping the fine press movement alive during the time of its publication. Its failure was not due to lack of content or subscribers, but to financial problems not directly associated with the journal itself.
In addition to articles on the various book arts—design, illustration, bookbinding, printing, type design—by experts on the topic, it featured reviews of select fine press books as well as what was basically a running catalogue of press books. It is these book notices upon which I concentrate in these “Time Machine” posts. Included among the presses noted are not only well-known presses, but also some who have since faded into obscurity, but whose works are still well worth collecting as examples of the private press movement. I thought it worthwhile to bring to the attention of today’s collectors the presses—however small or obscure—that were operating thirty-five to fifty years ago in the hope that there might be found within these posts something to spur an interest in the presses of those days gone by. To that end, I continue with the latest installment.
=========
The lead article is a fine one by Barry Moser, On Wood Engraving. It is an excellent article as is to be expected, and one well worth reading. In fact, it would be worthy of reprinting as an illustrated chapbook.
This article is followed by a shorter one on pochoir illustration by Frances Butler. The not quite four columns of text are followed by a short representative list of books so illustrated as well as a list of books suggested for further reading.
RECENT PRESS BOOKS
Five Trees Press. San Francisco, CA. 1977. Denise Levertov. Modulations for Solo Voice. 13 x 7 ¾ in; (32) pp. 300 copies total. Bembo type on Rives paper. Quarter ochre oasis leather case binding, with marbled paper sides; hand-sewn headbands; 50 copies, $75. 250 copies on Curtis Colophon paper; wrappers, $10. Reviewed by Maria Epes: “...This book is pure and simple elegance backed with fine craftsmanship.” Ed. note: Maria was associated with Adrian Wilson and his press, The Press in Tuscany Alley.
The Janus Press. West Burke, VT. 1977. James Reeves. The Closed Door. 9¼ x 6¼ in.; 12 pp. Hand set Walbaum on Twinrocker paper. Printed at the Janus Press in Newark, VT, by Susan Johanknecht and Claire van Vliet to Anthony Baker at The Gruffyground Press, Landram, Sident, Winscombe, Somerset in England. Brown calf spine with rose lilac marbled boards, 75 copies, $50. 165 signed copies in brown french-folded Fabriano wrappers, £6.50. Favorably reviewed by Wesley B. Tanner.
Kingait Press. Cape Dorset, Baffin Island, NWT, Canada. 1977. The Printers of Kingait Press. The Inuit World: An Annotated Black Print Illustrating Wildlife, Weapons, Tools, and Objects of Everyday Life, With Names in English and Inuktitut Languages. 13¾ x 9 in.; 26 pp. 1000 copies. Text in 14 pt. Van Dijck Roman and Italic. Tan Fabriano wrappers with title printed on upper cover; woodblock print enclosed in blue envelope; hinged box also of blue paper; labe pasted on spine. $75. Glowing review by Linnea Gentry: This “first little piece of bookwork” from the Kingait Press is one of the most remarkable successes of printing ever to have come to our attention...Moreover, the book itself, The Inuit World, is a technically and aesthetically superb piece of printing....
ED. NOTE: Copies of this book currently go for around $250. Methinks thou shouldst spring for one if it be within the grasp of thy purse.
=========
The next four books were reviewed as a group by Kathy Walkup because they all have in common an apprenticeship with Walter Hamady (Perishable Press). They all passed muster.
Purgatory Pie Press. Prospect Hills,IL. 1977. Timothy Cohrs. The Eerie Shore Letters (poems). 7 x 5 in; (36) pp. 49 signed copies. Small photo silhouette illustrations. Spectrum type on several colors of papers homemade by the printer. Self wrappers. $10.
The Red Ozier Press. Madison, WI. 1976. Diane Wakoski. George Washington’s Camp Cups. (poem). 9 x 6½ in.; (14) pp. 150 signed copies. Kennerly and Spectrum types in red and brown on Frankfurt Cream paper. Wrappers of white Miller and Anderson handmade paper. $15.
Sea Pen Press and Paper Mill. Seattle, WA.
1977. Beth Bentley. Philosophical Investigations. (poems). 30 signed copies. 6½ x 6½ in.; (14) pp. 30 signed copies. Line drawings on front & back foldout leaves. Caslon type in russet, pale purple, and blue on Mochizuki paper. Title printed on mauve self wrappers mad by the printer. $40.
1976. Joan Stone. Alba. (poems). 7 x 10½ in; (28) pp. Centaur type printed in red, green, and brown on various shades of green paper handmade by the printer. Blind stamped covers; Japanese binding. 20 copies, $28. 10 copies with jade cedar bark covers, $37. 60 copies printed on Frankfurt Cream, $21.
=========
The Press in Tuscany Alley. San Francisco, CA, Adrian Wilson, prop. 1978. Robert Louis Stevenson. A Child’s Garden of Verses. With 9 poems not published in prior editions. Intro by Janet Adam Smith. 10 x 6¼ in; 129 pp. 500 copies printed by Adrian Wilson assisted by Maria Poythress Epes, Jerry Reddan, Adriane Bosworth, and Myra Levy. Type set by Mackenzie-Harris in Centaur and Arrighi types. Printed on Arches Laid Text; bound by Schuberth Bookbindery.Green linen spine with decorative paper sides. $90. Luke warm review by Kit Currie.
BOOKS IN SHEETS
S. Gale Herrick. San Francisco, CA. 1978. Hand Bookbinding Today, an International Art. 36 x 27 cm; 94 pp. The exhibition catalog from the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Untrimmed sheets, $12 ppd. This is the catalog for the exhibition mentioned in the previous issue (see FP Time Machine #12). It was also made available bound in wrappers, 2500 copies, gratis. I still have my copy of that catalogue, although it is a bit the worse for wear. It is worth getting a copy as it showcases some interesting and some beautiful bindings and is rather affordable, with copies going for $6.00 to $30.00 in wrappers. Oak Knoll has a re-bound copy in boards for $38.
The Press of the Nightowl. Baton Rouge, LA, Dwight Agner, prop. 1977. Charlotte Garrett. Presences. (poems). 19 x 13 cm; 29 pp. Joanna type on handmade Maidstone paper. Sheets. $15. Note: See “Books Received” below.
BOOKS RECEIVED
Bios Press. Albany, CA. 1978. Hilda Doolittle. Kora & Ka. 19.5 x 9.5 cm; 42 pp. 100 copies. Printed by Wes Tanner with Caslon type on Curtis Utopian paper. Bound in green cloth; dust jacket, $25. Wrappers, $5.
Brandstead Press. Carlisle, Ontario, Canada.
1977. Madzy Brender à Brandis. April Snowstorm. 14 x 11 cm; 36 pp. 60 copies total. 13 charming wood engravings of farm scenes. Kennerly and Della Robia types on homemade paper by G. Brender à Brandis. Rough-hewn binding in Irish linen cloth and slipcase, 20 copies, $40. 40 copies on handmade Tovil paper, $30. Comment by Linnea Gentry: “Type is badly over-inked.”
1977. Clare MacCulloch, ed. Larkspur and Lad’s Love. (homosexual poetry). 27.5 x 21.5 cm; 56 pp. 120 copies. 19 linocuts. Kennerly type on Hale handmade paper. Bound in multicolored roughly-woven cloth, slipcased, $100; batik cloth binding, $85. Comment by Sandra Kirschenbaum: “Layout and back-up faulty; the linocuts are cumbersome and show through annoyingly.”
Four Winds Press. Locust Valley, NY. 1977. Edward Lear. A Lear Song with a foreowrd by Philip Hofer. 19.5 x 23 cm; (14) pp. 150 copies. Lear’s nonsense song, The Broom, the Shovel, the Poker and the Tongs together with a separate facsimile of the original letter-manscript in back cover pocket. Palatino type on Basingwerk paper. Green leather spine with paste papers by Carol J. Blinn over boards. $30.
The Halfpenny Press. Madison, WI. 1977. John Fandel. The Small Event. (poems). 35 x 16.5 cm; (16 pp). 120 copies. 3 small squarish etchings abstractly reflecting the poetry. Venus Sans Serif type on Rives paper. Gray handmade self-wrappers. $12; signed, $17.50.
Janus Press. West Burke, VT, Claire van Vliet, prop.
1977. W. R. Johnson. From Actium. (poems). 26 x 18cm; (14) pp. 75 copies. Printed black with violet titles in Gudrun Zapf’s Diotima type on French-folded Fabriano paper. Bound in purple cloth with original lithograph by Claire van Vliet on upper cover. $20.
1977. John Theobald. A Second Light. (poems). 26 x 18 cm; (14) pp. 75 copies. Printed black with blue titles in Diotima type on French-folded Fabriano paper. Bound in navy cloth with original lithograph by Claire van Vliet on upper cover. $20.
Comment by Sandra Kirschenbaum: “Matching volumes of fine poetry in stunning bindings; beautifully designed and printed.”
Manroot. South San Francisco, CA. 1978. James Broughton. Song of the Godbody. 24.5 x 16 cm; (14) pp. 226 signed copies. Tipped in as frontispiece is an original photograph of the author, unclad. (Ed.: Oh, Hell yes! Just what I want to see.) Caslon Old Style type on ivory paper. Self-wrappers. $12.
The Press of the Nightowl. 1977. Charlotte Garrett. Presences. (poems). 19 x 13 cm; 29 pp. Joanna type on handmade Maidstone paper. 20 copies, quarter leather with marbled boards, $25. 180 copies on Warren’s Olde Style paper with Tweedweave covers, $5. Ed. Note: This was offered in unbound sheets up above, obviously from this 180 copy issue.
The Press of the Pegacycle Lady. Los Angeles, CA. 1977. Edward Roditi. Meetings with Conrad. 20 x 13.5 cm; 18 pp. 200 copies total. Art Nouveau decoration on title page. Cochin and Cochin Italic types on Warren’s Olde Style paper. Gray printed paper boards, 174 copies, $16; 26 copies on handmade Ashling paper, $45. Note by Susan Spring Wilson: “A schoolboy memoir of having met Conrad. Ashling paper of the more expensive edition attractive in color but grain direction is wrong, causing paper to spring stiffly. The sprightly two-color design shows to better advantage on the Warren’s Olde Style though the inking is inconsistent.”
The Pittsburgh Bibliophiles. Pittsburgh, PA. 1978. Herman Melville. Bartleby. 30 x 22.5 cm; 57 pp. 250 copies. Four reproduced drawings by Norton Peterson. Janson type printed offset on Colophon text paper. Green cloth binding. $30. Reviewer note: “Nicely printed; adequate trade cloth binding.”
The Polyglot Press. Lexington, KY, 1976. The Song of Songs Which is Solomon’s. 32.5 x 28 cm. 70 copies. 8 sheets of Arches paper, six of which have colorful floral serigraphs by Grace Perreiah pasted within black border above text inuppr case Forum type. Laid loose in folder; cloth spine. $65.
Rams Head Press. Chicago, IL. 1978. P. J. Spitzmueller. Pattern from a Floating World. 18 x 13 cm; single sheet accordion-folded into sixteen panels. 31 copies. Pasted-on samples of marbled paper alternating with poetic phrases descriptive of marbling process. End panels attached to marbled paper boards; enclosed in drop-back box. $30; w/o box $16. Press located at the Newberry Library.
Charles Seluzicki. Baltimore, MD. 1978. Charles Simic School for Dark Thoughts. Poems, 23 x 16.5 cm; 15 pp. 235 signed copies. Garamond type on Weimar paper sew into blue Roma paper covers. Printed by Banyan Press, Pawlet, VT. $22.50. Note: A continuation of Seluzicki’s enlightened policy of commissioning fine presses for poetry books.
The Upstairs Press. Kentfield, CA.
1977. Virginia Woolf. Thoreau. 22 x 17 cm.; (20) pp. 100 copies. Caslon type on a smooth wove paper. Pink Fabriano wrappers. $3.50. Book was available at Serendipity Books, Berkeley. First separate printing of an article published in 1917 by the London Times Literary Supplement on the occasion ofthe centenary of Thoreau’s birth.
1977. Mildred Bissinger. The First Six. Poems. 19.5 x 17 cm; (16) pp, 59 copies. Centaur type with Goudy Capitals on Rives paper. Blue Fabriano wrappers; title printed on pasted white label. $2.20.
THE REFERENCE SHELF
Goudy, Frederic W. Typologia; Studies in Type Design & Type Making. Berkeley: Univ. of California Press, 1977. Illus. 8vo. Xviii +170 pp. Cloth, $15; paper, $3.95. Reprint of 1940 edition. Reviewer Alexander Lawson gave it a thumbs up.
Leif, Irving F. an International Sourcebook of Paper History. Hamden, CT: Archon Books, 1978. 8vo. 160 pp. Cloth, $17.50.Reviewer John Bidwell considered it a sloppy bibliography with plenty of room for something better.
Owens, L. T. J. H. Mason 1875-1953, Scholar-Printer. London: Frederick Muller Limited, 1976. Illus. 4to; xvi + 192 pp. Cloth, £9.75. Positive review by Joseph Blumenthal. Mason was a prominent figure in the fine press movement, starting at the Ballantyne Press in London. He was also involved with the Doves Press for 10 years and was then a teacher at the Central School of Arts and Crafts in London and eventually became the director of the printing school there. Mason also assisted Harry Kessler at the Cranach Press. He was a major figure in the fine press scene of the time.
Stone, Reynolds. Reynolds Stone Engravings. Brattleboro, VT: The Stephen Greene Press, 1977. Illus. 4to, xli + 156 pp. Cloth, $65. Reviewed by Stephen Harvard. Book shows 550 of Stone’s engraving. Thumbs up!
Thompson, Susan Otis. American Book Design and William Morris. NY: Bowker, 1977. Illus, 4to; vxii + 250 pp. Cloth, $29.95. Joseph Dunlap, reviewer: “This is an important pioneering work, admirably elucidating a hitherto partially comprehended field, and treating for the first time one of the several areas in American art and thinking that felt the influence of William Morris. It is a handsomely produced volume, thanks to Alice Koeth – a pleasure to read and useful for reference”. I own this book and heartily concur!
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Part II of Paul Hayden Duensing’s article on private type faces occupies three pages. Part I was in the previous issue. Topics covered here: engraved matrices, hand-cut punches, machine-cut punches and electrodeposited matrices. For type geeks.
NEW PRESSES
Nice long article from Kingait Press (supra) on their history and operation. This is, in itself, well worth reading.
THAT WRAPS UP THIS ENTRY, leaving one more issue for 1978 and my bound volume. It will be a spell before I get to the unbound issues, but I will get them done. Eventually.
-RLH
2Shadekeep
A fine survey of widely varying materials! Good to see Denise Levertov in the mix, her poetry appears again and again in fine press from this time period.
That's amusing about the author photo in Song of the Godbody. Both the photo and the title seem exceedingly in the Walt Whitman vein.
Oh, and picking up Janus Press books for $20 each is another advisable use of a time machine.
That's amusing about the author photo in Song of the Godbody. Both the photo and the title seem exceedingly in the Walt Whitman vein.
Oh, and picking up Janus Press books for $20 each is another advisable use of a time machine.
