Richmond, VA: Monalisa Bagby, 2022. Hardcover. Number 2 of 4 copies signed and inscribed by the book artist, Monalisa Bagby. The half-mythical king Gilgamesh features in several Sumerian poems but is best known from The Epic of Gilgamesh. Historical evidence for Gilgamesh's existence is found in inscriptions crediting him with the building of the great walls of Uruk (modern-day Warka, Iraq). The quest for the meaning of life, explored by writers and philosophers from antiquity up to the present day, is first fully explored in the Gilgamesh epic as the hero-king leaves the comfort of his city following the death of his best friend, Enkidu, to find the mystical figure Utnapishtim and eternal life. Gilgamesh's fear of death is actually a fear of meaninglessness, and although he fails to win immortality, the quest itself gives his life meaning. The epic has served as the model for any similar tale that has been written since. Bagby was inspired by The Epic of Gilgamesh, the oldest piece of epic world literature, but in this inventive and creative version she tells the ancient story with modern twists. She writes at the end of her book that after visiting the epic tale she rewrote and adapted the story to fit her voice. Despite the modern references she made every effort to remain true to its spirit. She describes some her modern references: "for instance, the gods drink coffee, the Bull-of-Heaven is referenced as a vehicle and the celebration of Enkidu and Gilgamesh is described as a State Fair. The artwork also provides modern allusions. In the first pages Gilgamesh appears as a hulking predatory bird peering down at his people. Its purple color represents his royal stature. Later in the story, the goddess Ishtar is shown wearing tights with her hair braided. Gilgamesh’s grief and internal turmoil-his unraveling-is represented by a male figure with a floating head of confusion. It is not a full bodied existence anymore. Even one of his sandals is missing. Each signature of the book includes quotes and parts of or complete poems to support the story. The famed Flood Story is handwritten in brown ink. Screen-printed at the bottom of the page are remembrances from individuals of their experience of the news of the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center. Their stories are run together to create a stream-of-conscious of collective memories. The stories are printed in small typeface and in brown ink to suggest earth/ground/soil. To represent the impermanence of life the artwork is drawn in pencil. At the end of the story, the last paragraph is hand written in a field of blue representing peace and calm for Gilgamesh. The entire book is screen printed. Watercolor, collage, gold leaf, hand written sections and pencil drawings help carry the story. She chose a simple, muted design of the book cover is a reference to the earnestness of Gilgamesh's journey for meaning and contrasts the colorful rendering of the story. Bound in a Coptic binding in dark blue cloth with title in red on the cover. Printed in various fonts on Rives paper. In fine condition. Measures 8 x 8 inches. 23 pages plus colophon and final notes. ARTBK/011123. Fine. More

1520? Sebastian Brant (1457 - 1521) was a humanist and satirical poet best known for his Das Narrenschiff (1494; The Ship of Fools), the most popular German literary work of the 15th century. Jakob Locher issued the Latin translation, Stultifera Navis, in 1497. Locher's fame was mainly based on his editing and translation of Sebastian Brant's Ship of Fools. It was reprinted several times. This leaf is possibly from the 4th edition published in 1520. With text on verso and text and woodcut on recto. It is known that Albrecht Durer did many of the woodcuts for the original German edition but this illustration is unattributed. Pages are stained and browned. There are two pieces of white tape along the top margin of the first page. One seals a small closed tear. Measures 5 x 7.5 inches. About very good. LIT/033023. Very Good -. More

Toronto: Cheshire Cat Press, (2023). Hardcover. Signed in pencil on title page by George Walker with a Cheshire Cat hand drawn illustration. "The Cheshire Cat Press has finally made this unique artwork, with Carroll's original text, available once again - this time with extra illustrations not present in the previous editions. Walker's engravings are playful, surreal and downright provocative as ever, offering a new and darkly energetic interpretation of this time-honored, masterpiece" (jacket). This new edition is a redesigned version of the Porcupine Press edition printed in the late 1980s. Bound in red cloth boards with gilt title to spine. Red ribbon bookmark bound in. Pristine. In yellow dust jacket with red title to spine and front panels. Includes about 100 woodcuts by George Walker. 140 pages. PRI/022723. Fine / Fine. More

London: Shakespeare Head Press / Limited Editions Club, 1930. Hardcover. Number 1063 of 1520 copies. Signed by the printer (B.H. Newdigate) and illustrator. Includes 12 lithographs drawn on the stone by Zhenya Gray. First published in 1821, this book is the autobiography of Thomas De Quincey focusing on his addiction to laudanum and both the pleasure and pain it caused him. The illustrator Zhenya Gay (Eleanor Byrnes) is known for her love of animals and her children's books illustration, which often featured baby animals. Black cloth spine titled in gilt with marbled paper covered boards. Light wear to spine ends and corners and light rubbing to boards. Offsetting to endpapers, else clean and bright on fine paper. Tight binding. In tan paper covered slipcase with black spine panel. Heavy wear to edges and panels of case with chips to paper. The top panel of the case is split several inches along both edges. Size: Folio. 77 pages. LIT/020323. Near Fine. More

den Haag (Hague): Kunera Pers (Press), 1927. Hardcover. Number 80 of 100 copies. Beautifully printed in the Netherlands at the Kunera Press by J.F. van Royen. Arthur van Schendel (1874 - 1946) was a Dutch author known for his novels and short stories. Bound in full dark blue morocco boards with gilt title to spine, raised bands, and gilt rules to covers. The front board is slightly bowed, which has caused a two inch split to the leather along the bottom of the front joint. Light sunning to spine and minor wear to edges and corners of boards. Letterpress printed on Japanese paper. The text is in Dutch. Slight browning to margins and offsetting to endpapers from leather turn-ins, but clean and bright overall. Bookplate of Boekerÿ van Pieter Tjebbes to front pastedown. 19 pages. PRI/012323. Near Fine. More

Bloomsbury, The Nonesuch Press. 1937. Hardcover. A bibliographical list of the original illustrations to the works of Charles Dickens being those made under his supervision now compiled for the first time by Thomas Hatton. Includes the prospectus issued by the press for their complete set of Dickens's works. Bound in blue cloth with gilt titling to spine and front cover. Foxing to endpapers and previous owner's signature in pen, else interior pages are clean and bright. Very good condition. 128 pages. BOB/011623. Very Good. More