Wellesley, MA / Vietnam: C. David Thomas, 2001. Number 9 of 10 artist's proofs, signed by the artist and author. The edition was printed in a limited edition of 100 copies. A fascinating artists' book on Ho Chi Minh (1890 - 1969), a Vietnamese communist politician who served as the founder and first president of Vietnam from 1945 until his death. It was prepared by the artist, a Vietnam veteran and advocate for the Vietnamese people, and Charles Fenn, American biographer of Ho Chi Minh. The project was undertaken and developed due to a lack of publications available about Ho Chi Minh. It includes passages from Ho's fictional diary, based on factual information which is cited on each page. (The collaborators note that even though the diary is based on historical documents, it should not be taken literally.) The book also includes a chronology of Vietnam prior to Ho's birth, a chronology of Ho's life, map of Vietnam, poetry written by Ho while he was in prison in China in 1942-43, poems by several of Vietnam's leading poets, as well as stories told by Mr. Vu Ky and Mr. Dinh Duong Dinh, two of Ho's closest friends. Introductions, many illustrations, biographies of both collaborators, and acknowledgments are also included. A visually stunning, humanizing, and innovative way to learn about the life and impact of one of the most important leaders of the twentieth century.

Unbound pages, as issued. Printed on Vietnamese Do (mulberry) paper handmade in Dong O Village in northern Vietnam. The images are inkjet printed and the text was letterpress printed in Monotype Bembo by Wolfe Editions in Portland, ME. The pages are housed in a black lacquer box handmade by craftsmakers in Thanh Tri Village near Hanoi. The title of the book in red and gold is on the top lid. Each lacquer box is made in the centuries-old method of using wood covered with coarsely woven silk followed by thirteen coats of lacquer. Between coats of lacquer the box is hand sanded with water sandpaper until the final layer which is done by using charcoal powder and bare hands. The box is contained in a handmade silk slipcover, also made in Vietnam. The silk used for the slipcover was handwoven in Van Phuc Village near Hanoi. The case is held closed with two wooden clasps. The case Size: 13.25 x 11.25 x 2.25 inches. 118 pages (half text and half illustrations).

C. David Thomas is a contemporary American painter and printmaker who began exhibiting his work shortly after being released from active duty in Vietnam with the United States Army. He began his military duty in Pleiku with the 20th Engineer Battalion and served as a combat artist and as a soldier. Since then he has returned to Vietnam on many occasions, both as a working artist and as director of the Indochina Arts Partnership, an association which promotes artists' links between America and Vietnam. He is a retired professor of studio art at Emmanuel College. ARTB/071125. Fine. More