Four Fictions
Kentfield, CA: The Allen Press, 1973. Hardcover. One of 137 copies of which 7 were hors commerce. The title page describes this book as a concise presentation of literature, and book arts and crafts of England, France, United States, and Italy. In their introduction the Press proprietors, Lewis and Dorothy Allen, write that their purpose was to present in one volume a sample of the literature and printing of these four countries by selecting four authors who were among the most noteworthy fiction writers of the past century. Each author's fiction was illustrated by a noted artist of his country and printed on paper made in that country. The typefaces were chosen to suit the text. The works selected were Joseph Conrad's "The Lagoon," illustrated by Blaire Hughes Stanton; Gustave Flaubert's work is "The Legend of Saint Julien", illustrated by Michèle Forgeois; the work from Henry James is his "The Jolly Corner," illustrated by Joseph Low; and Luigi Pirandello's, work is "The Annuity," illustrated by Paolo Carosone. This handsome and ambitious book was set in types by hand on papers printed damp on a Columbian handpress. In the original front cover binding of gray paper with a vertical brown paper strip down the front cover and a brown paper rear cover. Titling to spine. Very good plus with a spot of wear at the front of the tail of the spine and a very small spot of soil near the head of the spine. In the original acetate wrapper with several small tears at the head of the spine. Measures 10 x 14.5 inches. 155 pages. PRI/110124. Very Good+.
Item #37582
Price: $700.00