Nevermore, Again. Poe Exhumed
Glenview, IL: Karen Hanmer, 2010. Hardcover. Number 21 of 25 copies in the Deluxe Edition. The edition consists of 125 copies of which 25 are deluxe, 50 are standard, and 50 are printed as chapbooks. Noted book artist Karen Hanmer examines the writings of Edgar Allan Poe and compares modern events to his stories. She examines Poe's "The Premature Burial" and compares nineteenth century fears of being buried alive to modern day people being buried in dept and unemployment. Perhaps most relevant to current events (even though Hanmer wrote this in 2010) is her examination of Poe's "The Masque of the Red Death" in which the plague is an "uninvited guest" at a masquerade within the suppossedly impregnable castle walls. In reflection on Poe's story, Hanmer writes: "In the new century, Americans have had the opportunity to realize that we are not as invulnerable as it is comforting to believe. Very bad things do happen here. We find ourselves unprepared for the events and with no plan for recovery in the aftermath."“The physical structure, typography, and design for the paper wrapper ... are based on the first edition of Poe’s first published work, Tamerlane and Other Poems. Only twelve copies of this modest pamphlet are known to exist of the fifty printed in Boston in 1827” (Hanmer). This copy is presented in an early 19th century boarded binding based upon a technique taught by Jeff Peachey. Bound in marbled paper covered boards with beige paper spine and title label to the front board. The paper was marbled by Pamela Smith. Inkjet printed on Ruscombe Mill pale wove handmade paper. Housed in an archival folding case with a replica of the Tamerlane title page pasted to the front cover. The case has a Velcro closure. In fine condition. 36 pages. ARTB/011516. Fine. More