Artistic and Fine Books from Kelmscott Bookshop Rare Books
An odd beast graces the cover of Kelmscott Bookshop's Catalog 3.
By Michael Stillman
This month we review our first catalogue from Kelmscott Bookshop Rare Books of Baltimore. This is their Catalog 3: Artists' Books, Private Press, the Pre-Raphaelites, William Morris, Fine Literature, Travel and More. Certainly we should not be surprised to see items relating to Morris in this catalogue, as he lived in Kelmscott Manor in Kelmscott, UK, and founded the Kelmscott Press. However, you will find many other fine and limited editions, artistic works, and more of notable interest to those fascinated by the book arts. Here are a few of the items waiting within the pages of this Kelmscott catalogue.
That terrifying creature on the cover (click the thumbnail image to view) comes from An Odd Bestiary, or, a Compendium of Instructive and Entertaining Descriptions of Animals, Culled from Five Centuries of Travelers' Accounts, Natural Histories, Zoologies, &c. By Authors Famous and Obscure, Arranged as an Abecedary. I must admit, I was not familiar with the term "abecedary," so if you share my ignorance, it's an alphabet or "ABC" book. This is a very special alphabet book, created by artist and printer Alan James Robinson of the Cheloniidae Press (later the Press of the Sea Turtle). The letters of the alphabet are accompanied by wood engravings of various members of the animal kingdom, ranging from aardvarks to zebras. Amusing text, taken from fact and fiction, to go with the images has been provided by Laurie Block. Initial letters have been hand-colored in red. Item 6 is one of 50 deluxe numbered copies of this 1982 book. Additionally, there are loose copies of the 26 engravings included, each signed and numbered by Robinson. Priced at $2,500.
From an alphabet book we go to an "alpha-bat" one. Item 4 is JoAnna Poehlmann's Alpha-Bats, published in 2005. This is an alphabet book which features images of bats, taken from paintings, postage stamps, woodcuts and more. Among the artists featured are Beatrix Potter, Max Ernst, Hans Holbein, and Leonard Baskin. Dates range from a 1522 Albrecht Durer scientific illustration to a 2004 hand-sewn toaster cover. This is number 4 of 25 copies signed and numbered by the artist. $875.
Item 38 is one of those books from Morris' Kelmscott Press. Published for Bernard Quaritch in 1892, the original was much, much older. It was taken from the 1481 Caxton edition of Reynard the Fox, though the story itself goes back well before even that. This work features ornate woodcut ornamental borders and initials throughout the text. $3,200.
Item 79 is the February 1892 issue of The Novel Review with which is incorporated Tinsley's Magazine. The Review/Tinsley's was published in London from 1867-1892, providing reviews of new fiction. This issue contains a review by a young George Bernard Shaw of his first books. He explains he is reviewing his own books because of "the extreme difficulty of finding anyone else who has read them." $225.
Item 22 is Ye Minutes of Ye CLXXVIIth Meeting of Ye Sette of Odd Volumes, Extracted from Ye Diary of Samuel Pepys... Ye! This is a privately printed piece from the Ashendene Press in 1896 for Ye Sette of Odd Volumes, a book lovers dining club founded by Bernard Quaritch two decades earlier. $700.
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Artistic and Fine Books from Kelmscott Bookshop Rare Books
Robert Louis Stevenson's drawing of his wife Fanny and her children.
Item 69 is a testament to the fact that tastes change. This book ran to nearly 50 editions around the turn of the century, and its author was extremely popular. Today, few people have ever heard of Hall Caine, and fewer yet have read The Deemster. A Romance. Offered is a scarce 1887 first edition of this once very popular book, a long (three-volume) novel concerning the law on the Isle of Man (a "deemster" is a judge on that isle). $500.
For those interested in American art, here is a masterpiece: William Gerdts' Art Across America: Two Centuries of Regional Painting. This is also a three-volume work, a thorough exploration of American painting from 1710-1920. It covers 800 artists and contains almost 1,000 illustrations. What is remarkable about this state-by-state look is that it covers many artists from the back-country whose locations left them virtually unknown. It also describes many women whose gender made it difficult to achieve any recognition. Item 48, published in 1990. $500.
Item 49 is a rare original sketch by an artist known more for his writing than his drawing. It is a sketch by Robert Louis Stevenson of his wife, Fanny, and her two children. Stevenson had met Fanny Osbourne, then married, in France in 1876, and later pursued her as she moved to California. Though ten years older than he, Stevenson was persistent in his love, which paid off after she became divorced. Stevenson was close to death by the time he reached San Francisco, but Fanny nursed him back to health. Though Stevenson was never very healthy, and died at the age of 44, Fanny's care kept him around long enough to write his great and lasting works. $4,000.
Kelmscott Bookshop Rare Books may be reached at 410-235-6810 or info@kelmscottbookshop.com. Their website is www.kelmscottbookshop.com.
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