Miscellaneous books from HM’s shelves that need new homes…
Hymns to Aphrodite ($100). Edition of 200 copies, quarto size, 12 pp. These selections from the volume of Homeric Hymns were translated into English prose by John Edgar and first published in Edinburgh in 1891 by James Thin. Published by the Grabhorn Press in October of 1927. Rebound, with original pastedowns retained (front p/d shows glue remnants from ex libris removed before I found it). Small illustration from original boards inset to front. Internally unmarked/fine. $75
Ars Typographia ($200)
The Fleuron ($350)
Unknown Pleasures. Peter Hook. First edition, 1/1000 signed copies issued in a (tightly fitting) slipcase. Fine. $100
Chapter & Verse. Bernard Sumner. First edition. Signed, with promotional card from the signing event laid in. Fine. $50
The Common Press. Godine 1978. Two vol. in slipcase. Slipcase has sticker adhesive mark and is split in two places (but holding together; I could attempt a structural, but not cosmetic, repair). Folder for drawings has some small chip at head. Text volume has very slight bump at tail. Contents all fine. Probably useful if for some inexplicable reason you ever want to build a common press. $40
Twelve Woodengravings of Cirsia & Various Thistles With Sundry Notes Gathered, Engraved & Privately Printed for Gray Parrot by Barry Moser 1978. 24mo, 38 leaves. Set by hand in Lutetia, printed in three colors on handmade Fabriano laid paper. This book was issued in an edition of 35 copies, all bound (but not all identically) by Gray Parrot. This is an odd out-of-series copy. It has just 11 engravings (Cirsium virginianum is lacking) and there are a few odd blanks in the collation. The colophon is signed by Moser but not the individual prints. Interestingly, it includes a half-title (which is followed by a blank) that does not appear in my numbered copy from the edition. The binding is a puzzle too. The leather is similar to that used by GP for the edition, but not exactly. Overall it looks like something done by an amateur with some skills but new to leather, maybe someone who took lessons from Parrot using sheets he pulled out of his recycle bin. Despite and because of these oddities, it's an interesting copy of a scarce Moser title.
The Journal of Norman Lee. One of 20 original sets of sheets from the edition that had not been bound upon publication. Bound 200? by Claudia Cohen, this copy in quarter leather with marbled paper and slipcase. With one-page afterword printed at HM explaining the history of these copies, signed by Reid.
an afterword was set and printed at Heavenly Monkey, as was an additional colophon that identified these copies as one of 20 issued in 2003 [i.e. 2006-8], signed by Reid. The sheets were sent to Claudia Cohen for binding: five were bound in full leather, and 15 in quarter leather, each with different marbled paper over boards. These copies were issued by Stephen Lunsford. A trade edition, using Reid's same setting, went into multiple printings; this original limited edition very uncommon.
Gold. Its properties, etc etc. Robert Reid & Takao Tanabe, 1958. Set in Caslon, printed on unidentified (but lovely) "British handmade paper." This copy inscribed on FFE from printer Robert Reid to his mother. $150. Quarter leather with marbled paper. The paper at first looks rubbed but it's the way it was made: a friend of Reid's taught herself marbling on his front lawn for this project. But there is slight rubbing to bottom tips. With (different) leather spine label laid in. One of the few copies bound with vellum tips. This title has become uncommon on the market.