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<b>Bonhams:</b> MANDELSHTAM, OSIP. 1891-1938. Autograph Manuscript, 2 pp, [Petersburg,] January 1913, entitled

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Fine Printings, Bindings, and Other Book Arts from the Veatchs - By Michael Stillman The Vetachs' number 73. The Veatchs Arts of the Book has issued their Catalogue 73. Fine Printings, Bindings, & Other Book Arts. This presents a new selection of works in the field of the book arts, or books as art. There are no “reading copies” here; most of these books weren't really meant to be read. They were intended to be appreciated for their beauty, even if they do tell a story or two along the way. Here are some selections from the latest offerings of the Veatchs. Item 44 presents an exceptional look at The Nature Printed British Sea-Weeds. This book by William Grosart Johnstone and Alexander Croall, published in four volumes from 1859-1860, features the nature printing process of Henry Bradbury. Bradbury developed a process of placing botanical specimens between a hard metal plate and a soft one to create something of a three-dimensional effect. The algae images were then printed in various color shades to reproduce nature – red, brown, green, pink, purple and grey. Sometimes, multiple colors were used. The sea-weeds “are herein reproduced with all fidelity to structure, character and tint of the originals. The most crystalline water could scarcely more delicately float these lace-like trophies of the Garden of the Sea than do their pages.” That is from the authors' preface, which might not be the most objective place to look for a description of the images, but it is a reasonable one in this case. Priced at $2,500. From botanical we go to zoological specimens - A Study of Dinosaurs on the Comparative Method or Comparative Dinosaurs for Students, Amateurs, Fanciers and Breeders. Dinosaur breeders? This humorous work is the creation of “H.J. Mudwinkle,” but perhaps we should focus more on the illustrations of Peter Foster. This 1986 item is a miniature book, but it comes with a set of loose engravings. This is one 35 deluxe issues of an edition of 175. The “dinosaurs” of this book are actually horned beetles. Item 79. $400. Item 10 comes from the multi-talented artist/sculptor/printer Leonard Baskin, and his Gehenna Press. What better way to put your art before the public then to operate your own fine press? The item is Birds & Animals, and it was published in 1974. This copy includes 66 prints though the prospectus calls for 65. Of these, 64 are signed by Baskin. According to the prospectus, only 5 copies were to have each print signed. This is an unbound binder's copy. Apparently, not all sets were bound or sold. The signed ones were offered for $2,500 when printed in 1974. $9,800.
Fine Printings, Bindings, and Other Book Arts from the Veatchs - By Michael Stillman 18 issues of The Rose of Sharon, 16 in Benjamin Bradley bindings. Item 15 is a complete run of the 18 annual editions of The Rose of Sharon, A Religious Souvenir for the Year 1840 (- 1857). This was a literary annual published in Boston by Tompkins & Mussey, and the works are tilted toward the beliefs of the Universalist Church. Some of these gift books were presented in fine bindings, and 16 of these 18 editions are in deluxe leather bindings from Benjamin Bradley. Each one has a different cover. The years 1852 and 1853 are in standard bindings, but there is a second copy from 1853 in a deluxe morocco binding. $3,800. Item 71 is The Book of Specimens Stanhope Press, published in 1905. It was the product of the F.H. Gilson Company. Mr. Gilson had founded the company in 1878 and named the printing division after Charles, Third Earl of Stanhope. The Earl was a politician and scientist who invented a printing press in the late 1700s. This book contains 60 samples of binding cloth and 16 of leather, along with type specimens and similar material expected to be found in a large specimen book. $620. Item 38 is an odd item from the Heavenly Monkey Press: Oddballs. The Remarkable True Stories of Forty Unique, Strange, Peculiar, Extraordinary & Generally Odd People... The author and illustrator of this recent selection (2011) is Jim Westergard. Among those featured in this work are Aimee Semple McPherson, Howard Hughes, Timothy Leary, Rasputin, and Pope Joan. Westergard provides portraits and descriptions of these people who are “quietly or outlandishly out of the ordinary.” $2,000. The Veatchs Arts of the Book can be reached at 413-584-1867 or veatchs@veatchs.com. Their website is www.veatchs.com.

Fine Printings, Bindings, and Other Book Arts from the Veatchs

- By Michael Stillman

The Vetachs' number 73.

The Veatchs Arts of the Book has issued their Catalogue 73. Fine Printings, Bindings, & Other Book Arts. This presents a new selection of works in the field of the book arts, or books as art. There are no “reading copies” here; most of these books weren't really meant to be read. They were intended to be appreciated for their beauty, even if they do tell a story or two along the way. Here are some selections from the latest offerings of the Veatchs.

Item 44 presents an exceptional look at The Nature Printed British Sea-Weeds. This book by William Grosart Johnstone and Alexander Croall, published in four volumes from 1859-1860, features the nature printing process of Henry Bradbury. Bradbury developed a process of placing botanical specimens between a hard metal plate and a soft one to create something of a three-dimensional effect. The algae images were then printed in various color shades to reproduce nature – red, brown, green, pink, purple and grey. Sometimes, multiple colors were used. The sea-weeds “are herein reproduced with all fidelity to structure, character and tint of the originals. The most crystalline water could scarcely more delicately float these lace-like trophies of the Garden of the Sea than do their pages.” That is from the authors' preface, which might not be the most objective place to look for a description of the images, but it is a reasonable one in this case. Priced at $2,500.

From botanical we go to zoological specimens - A Study of Dinosaurs on the Comparative Method or Comparative Dinosaurs for Students, Amateurs, Fanciers and Breeders. Dinosaur breeders? This humorous work is the creation of “H.J. Mudwinkle,” but perhaps we should focus more on the illustrations of Peter Foster. This 1986 item is a miniature book, but it comes with a set of loose engravings. This is one 35 deluxe issues of an edition of 175. The “dinosaurs” of this book are actually horned beetles. Item 79. $400.

Item 10 comes from the multi-talented artist/sculptor/printer Leonard Baskin, and his Gehenna Press. What better way to put your art before the public then to operate your own fine press? The item is Birds & Animals, and it was published in 1974. This copy includes 66 prints though the prospectus calls for 65. Of these, 64 are signed by Baskin. According to the prospectus, only 5 copies were to have each print signed. This is an unbound binder's copy. Apparently, not all sets were bound or sold. The signed ones were offered for $2,500 when printed in 1974. $9,800.

Fine Printings, Bindings, and Other Book Arts from the Veatchs

- By Michael Stillman

18 issues of The Rose of Sharon, 16 in Benjamin Bradley bindings.

Item 15 is a complete run of the 18 annual editions of The Rose of Sharon, A Religious Souvenir for the Year 1840 (- 1857). This was a literary annual published in Boston by Tompkins & Mussey, and the works are tilted toward the beliefs of the Universalist Church. Some of these gift books were presented in fine bindings, and 16 of these 18 editions are in deluxe leather bindings from Benjamin Bradley. Each one has a different cover. The years 1852 and 1853 are in standard bindings, but there is a second copy from 1853 in a deluxe morocco binding. $3,800.

Item 71 is The Book of Specimens Stanhope Press, published in 1905. It was the product of the F.H. Gilson Company. Mr. Gilson had founded the company in 1878 and named the printing division after Charles, Third Earl of Stanhope. The Earl was a politician and scientist who invented a printing press in the late 1700s. This book contains 60 samples of binding cloth and 16 of leather, along with type specimens and similar material expected to be found in a large specimen book. $620.

Item 38 is an odd item from the Heavenly Monkey Press: Oddballs. The Remarkable True Stories of Forty Unique, Strange, Peculiar, Extraordinary & Generally Odd People... The author and illustrator of this recent selection (2011) is Jim Westergard. Among those featured in this work are Aimee Semple McPherson, Howard Hughes, Timothy Leary, Rasputin, and Pope Joan. Westergard provides portraits and descriptions of these people who are “quietly or outlandishly out of the ordinary.” $2,000.

The Veatchs Arts of the Book can be reached at 413-584-1867 or veatchs@veatchs.com. Their website is www.veatchs.com.