Heavenly Monkey :: letterpress & binding studio

HM = X = A NEW BOOK
It was around this time exactly ten years ago that the first book bearing the Heavenly Monkey imprint was issued. Since then HM and HM Editions have issued a total of 32 titles, all of which have been detailed, with brief commentaries, in our newly published Checklist Number Three. It is by far the most elaborate of our checklists to date, and the first to actually be printed at the studio. The Heavenly Monkey and HM Editions publications are listed in separate sections. For the sake of completeness, a third section details the three books issued under HM's predecessor imprint, A Lone Press (1998-99).

The text has been set in Dante and Dante Titling, on printed in two colors on dampened Guarro laid paper. The checklist itself runs to 20 pages, followed by a section in which actual leaves form six of our books are mounted (i.e. hinged) on successive rectos, above the book's printed title. The samples are taken from Francesco Griffo da Bologna (1999); The "Innsmouth Look" (2003); The Garden of Good & Evil (2004); A Letter from T.E. Lawrence (2005); The Girl with the Mask of a Crow (2005); and Iskandariya (2007). The checklist's format is commensurate with Elements in Correlation, to which this checklist can be considered a companion volume, in that the sample leaves are offered primarily as an admittedly dismal history in (on) paper of HM's attempts over the decade to learn how to properly dampen and print on different papers (primarily hand made).

The edition consists of 26 copies (4to, 40 pp with samples), each one press-lettered (A - Z) with Jim Rimmer's 36-pt Duensing type. The books have been sewn at HM, and uniformly cased in black Japanese cloth, with printed labels on the front board and spine. The issue price is $750.

During the Olympic shut-down of our city this past winter, we produced an enjoyably diverting precursor to the checklist: a boxed collection of ephemeral pieces spanning HM's first decade, issued by London booksellers Collinge & Clark. The idea was sparked last year, when Oliver Clark asked if a few lots of ephemera could be assembled to interest collectors unfamilair with HM's work. The result, titled Twelve from Ten, is a collection of prospectuses, pamphlets and broadsides from a dozen different projects (including the first appearance of the name Heavenly Monkey). The collection is detailed in a contents sheet printed on Reg Lissel's handmade HM Text paper, with a press-numbered colophon. The whole lot is wrapped in a printed chemise, and kept in a clamshell box with an inlaid title label on the front. Number 1 stayed with us, numbers 2-5 where shipped off to Messers Collinge & Clark in March. Contact them if interested in more details.

NEXT IN THE PRESS
With the checklist completed and issued, we will begin printing the next collaboration between Barbara Hodgson and Claudia Cohen, titled The WunderCabinet. This will be the first of their books to actually be printed at Heavenly Monkey, with the handpress, on a special batch of cotton and linen papers made by Reg Lissel. See here for details. The cabinet will include, among many other items, a six-panel tunnel book, which was printed at HM on dampened Arches paper during the Christmas holidays.

ELEMENTS IN CORRELATION
It was a tough slog, and a few times things looked grim, but all copies of Elements in Correlation have been shipped, and the book is now out of print. Last our the bindery where the five deluxe copies in full-leather bindings. These are bound in black morocco with red morocco onlays and gilt tooling. The HM paste paper that Claudia created for the quarter leather bindings is used in these five special copies as endpapers. These copies also feature a preliminary sheet printed on Reg Lissel's semi-opaque vellum paper; this was HM's first successful attempt at dampening this paper, printing on it, and drying it flat (the stuff is infamous for its reaction to dampness). We know not where these copies will eventually land, except for one which was purchased from one of our booksellers by the University of San Francisco. The book is out of print, but copies may be available from our regular booksellers. For more details about the project and some images, go to this page.

NEW! HM ARTISTS' PAMPHLET SERIES
The studio is pleased to announce the launch of a new series of occasional pamphlets, each featuring the writing and artwork of an artist from outside the world of books and printing. The format will be uniform - an eight-page pamphlet, approx 6 x 11 inches, plus a frontis, sewn into a stiff wrap - but how each contributor chooses to use those pages is entirely up to them. This simple format will allow us to plan and produce each pamphlet relatively quickly, capturing the spirit and spontaneity of a first collaboration.

The series will be launched by four new poems by previous HM collaborator Harold Budd, accompanied by a new etching. We have a wish-list of other contributors - spanning the worlds of music, film and literature - but cannot confirm any subsequent projects at this time. (We can, however, say that Number 2 in the series probably will appear before the end of 2010.) The series will proceed as and when pieces fall into place.

Each title in the HM Artists' Pamphlet Series will be issued in our usual edition of 50 copies. To keep the business aspect of things simple, the entire series will essentially be hors de commerce: the editions will be split between HM and the artist, for private distribution. We will, however, be accepting ten patron subscriptions, to cover the costs of materials and printing of artwork by others (for example, the etching to be included with 4 will be editioned at New Leaf Editions).

Patrons of the series will be invoiced upon receipt of each new title in the series. The cost will be $250.00 net per title. We anticipate the series to proceed, on average, at the pace of one new title annually. Subscriptions are initially offered exclusively to HM patrons. Anyone interested in subscribing should contact us, and we will accommodate them on a first-come basis, as availability allows.

Harold Budd's 4 will be set by hand in Bembo and printed damp at HM with the Washington press. (We're still considering options for the paper; it probably will be a mould-made.) The frontis will be a new etching by Harold (initial proof opposite), printed chine collé by master printer Peter Braune. The sheets will be sewn up by Keith Lowe of MoonLiner Books into a printed, heavy handmade paper wrap. Numbers 1 to 40 will be distributed by the publisher and author; numbers 41 - 50 will be issued to patrons of the series. We expect the book to be completed in the fall of 2010.

REID & RIMMER
The site dedicated to the printing work of Robert R. Reid disappeared from the 'net last year. We're pleased to report that it is back, in pretty much the same format, tucked under the HM umbrella. It can be accessed through Bob's link on the HM Friends page.

We have also updated Jim Rimmer's page, and included a brief checklist of his major publications. We'd be interested in adding any items people would care to submit (brief bibliographic description, and a photo is possible). Note that we understand a few copies of his last book, Tom Sawyer, may still be available from the family.

GODSPEED!
...is back! See here, and look forward to whatever may come (hopefully they won't follow Mogwai's example and introduce vocals).

HEAVENLY MONKEY