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This is a very fine assemblage of works from the three iterations of the handpress founded by Alan James Robinson (b. 1950) and Joel Ginsburg in 1979: the ABCedary Press; the Cheloniidae Press (the best-known of the press names), and The Press of the Sea Turtle (1992 to present). All of these books are impressive private press productions that are lovely, charming, and in exceptional condition. Robinson quickly established a reputation for producing books that are uniformly tasteful as well as delightful, that use the highest quality materials, that involve the work of various highly skilled collaborators, and that are generally in some way about animals. He received an MFA in printmaking from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and has spent his adult career within the well-developed book-arts community in western Massachusetts. He designs and illustrates all of the Cheloniidae books in collaboration with numerous artisans and craftsmen. All of Robinson's books were printed by the celebrated master printer Harold P. McGrath (1921-2000) until his retirement in 1991. 1) (ABCEDARY PRESS). ROBINSON, ALAN JAMES, Artist. CAROL, MARK PHILIP. ANCIENT NEEDS. (Easthampton, Massachusetts: ABCedary Press, 1989) 380 x 280 mm. (15 x 11"). 76 pp. Designed by Alan James Robinson and Mark Philip Carol. No. VI OF XXV COPIES OF THE DELUXE EDITION, SIGNED in the colophon by Robinson, Carol, and the printer Harold McGrath. (There were also 25 copies of the Regular edition, 26 copies in full vellum binding, and four artist's proof copies). Bound in white handmade paper by Timothy Barrett, a window on the front cover framing Robinson's wood engraving of a Harp Seal pup, printed on Gampi Torinoko. In a pale blue silk and linen clamshell box by Sarah Creighton, two paper labels on spine. WITH 11 TWO-COLOR AQUATINT AND DRY POINT ETCHINGS AND FIVE WOOD ENGRAVINGS BY ROBINSON, AND WITH AN ADDITIONAL SUITE OF ALL THE ILLUSTRATIONS, signed and numbered by the artist, housed in a silk-linen chemise. Text printed on blue or white handmade paper; etchings printed on Rives BFK. With Robinson's original handwritten invoice laid in. Spine of box sunned to taupe, but the case otherwise unworn and the contents pristine. Robinson's moving depictions of harp seals illustrate Carol's story on the subject, told in a combination of prose and poetry by three narrators: a 15-year-old from the Magdalen Islands, a mother seal, and a baby seal. 2) (ABCEDARY PRESS). ROBINSON, ALAN JAMES, Illustrator. CAROL, MARK P. BANGING ROCKS. (Easthampton, Massachusetts: ABCedary Press, 1991) 200 x 128 mm. (8 x 5"). 32 pp. No. 1 OF 100 COPIES of the Regular Edition (from a total edition of 125) SIGNED by Robinson. Publisher's plain brown paper binding, housed in an unadorned linen clamshell box with compartments for the "Banging Rocks." WITH TWO WOOD ENGRAVINGS AND SEVEN LINE DRAWINGS BY ROBINSON depicting the Galapagos Islands, the Galapagos tortoise, and the "Banging Rocks." With two small egg-shaped green rocks. Small scuff to one rock (from banging), otherwise in mint condition. Inspired by the author's trip to the Galapagos Islands, this whimsical production was intended, according to the prospectus, as "a humorous look at today's social and sexual values through the guise of rocks (occasionally referred to as the 'pet rock turns 30-something.')." The "plain-brown-wrapper" binding and clamshell are a cheeky nod to its "salubrious" contents. 3) (CHELONIIDAE PRESS). ROBINSON, ALAN JAMES, Artist and Book Designer. ATLANTIC SALMON. (Easthampton, Massachusetts: Cheloniidae Press, 1988) 360 x 280 mm. (14 1 /4 x 11"). [98] pp. With essays by Stephen Bodio and Ted Williams. No. 1 of 50 DELUXE COPIES, SIGNED in the colophon (from a total edition of 81 copies), IN THE PUBLISHER'S DELUXE BINDING by Claudia Cohen, using handmade paper by Sara Krohn backed with aqua-blue crushed morocco, upper cover with leather onlay panel by Gray Parrot depicting the "Jock Scott" fishing fly, smooth spi.
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