Crocodile: Two Accounts with Figures of that Curious Animal Drawn and Engraved from Nature
[London]: Susan Allix, 2021. Number 10 of 14 copies signed and numbered by the book artist on the colophon. Susan Allix is a widely known and celebrated book artist. From her website: "Susan Allix uses the book as a creative medium. Limited editions from her private press are made with original prints, letterpress printing and hand binding to achieve a harmonious artwork. The complexity of her handmade books offers an unending variety of possibilities in interpretation and structure, along with a wide choice of texts, materials and media which are reflected in the published works." Allix wrote about the genesis of this interesting work in her May 2021 online newsletter: "The book began with Mr. Crow. An experienced leather man, he would often stop for a cup of tea if he was bringing me a binding skin....One day he appeared unexpectedly at the window, waving an old supermarket bag which he left without speaking and disappeared. I emptied the bag and out came a shower of dirt with a heap of shiny black crocodile skins of all shapes and sizes, left-overs from the cutting of designer bags and shoes. The pieces were beautiful and fascinating...With this armor it is not surprising crocodiles have survived so long." She also notes that her other inspiration was The History and Description of the Crocodile, written by Amable Michel in 1799. She writes: "This curious account was put together by an artist who owned a stuffed crocodile in his home in Piccadilly that was available for the public to view." She continues: I added another short account to that of Mr. Michel, both for variety and unexpected nature of meetings with crocodiles, for they deserve attention, respect, and an unmolested life." This beautifully made book is bound in mottled black and blue-green quarter goatskin with hand-decorated white J. Green paper boards. Overlaid with black crocodile skin. With silver-dusted handmade Japanese endpapers. Handset and letterpress printed in Gill and Gill Shadow type on Zerkall papers white and tinted in green, also Tosa Shi molded green, reminiscent of alligator skin, and handmade Japanese paper. There are eight prints, five of which are in Allix's signature carborundum style. The prints are done with etching, linocut, and archival inkjet with tissue guards. Housed in a green cloth clamshell case with a goatskin and crocodile clasp. In fine condition. Measures 6.75 x 9 inches. Unpaginated [25 pages]. More