Jan Vrtilek (3 results)

Hardcover. Condition: Fine. [Czechoslovakia]: Jan Vrtilek, [1990]. Approximately 3/4 x 1". Green cloth over boards for the clamshell case, blind-stamped design on front cover, black velvet interior with indentation for the miniature book, tipped in typed note describing this as a Christmas /New Year gift for 1990-1991; Red leather over boards with gilt decorations and borders to both covers and spine, all edges gilt, miniature blindstamp on the lower edge of the inner rear cover: J.V., in fine condition. Scarce miniature edition, made from cut up leaves from old books, most likely an 18th century Roman Missal, complete with some ornaments.

Hardcover. Condition: Fine. No Jacket. Folio; size of the binding: 12 1/4 inches x 16 7/8 in, Half-title; title-page printed in black and tan; [77] pp., including half-titles & illustrations & essay by Anneliese Hubscher + unnumbered colophon page with the binder's name. Each of the three stories has three illustrations: "Der Neue Paris", is illustrated by Karl-Georg Hirsch, "Die Neue Melusine", is illustrated by Rolf Munzner and "Das Marchen", is illustrated by Rainer Herold (these are in color); a total of 9 illustrations. This is one of the unnumbered copies, with the unsigned illustrations, reserved for hand binding. German text. This copy was bound by Slovak design bookbinder, Jan Vrtilek, who has imprinted his name on the colophon page, and added his printed monogram JV labels to the box, as well as his address label (Atelier Safarikova) to the inside of the box. The binding features inlays and onlays of several colors and textures of leather and suede-surfaced leathers, in a bold, abstract design, with the title stamped in recessed sections in the lower left of the front cover (shown in the scan), olive green cloth-lined endpapers. In a gray, textured cloth-covered drop-back box with title labels on the spine and front cover, and with the JV monogram labels. The box edges show light wear, the book is in fine condition. The late Jan Vrtilek, exhibited at the Leipzig IBA 1982 (most likely this book), and elsewhere. Rare item. [Partial colophon]: "Diesser Pressendruck entstand analasslich der Internationalen Buchkunstausstellung 1982 in Leipzig. [-] Von der Auflage wurden 150 Bogenexemplare fur die Kabinettausstellung "Praxis des Handbuchbindens" zur Verfugung gestellt. [-] Fur dieses Buch wurde der Handeinband gefertigt von [binder's printed name]: Jan Vrtilek Zilina C S S R.". Weight: 6 lbs. Postage is extra on this item.

Hardcover. Condition: Fine. No Jacket. 2 5/8 inches x 2 x 5/8 in., approx. 100 unnumbered "pages" cut down from an 18th century Roman Missal, with engravings cut down. Engravings featuring St. Peter's, Rome; Angels, St. Paul, Head of Christ & several other images. Initial letters cut out of this (or similar items) have been collaged to some pages as have some typographic ornaments. Mainly the Calendar portion of the Missal. Finely bound in full red morocco leather, with richly gilt quarters on front & back covers forming an elongated Maltese cross design & raised bands & rich gilding of linear designs on spine; small red reference tabs in fore edge. All edges sprinkled red & gilt; preserved in a gray & gilt linen covered clamshell box. Signed with a miniature blind-stamp on the lower edge of the inner front cover: J. Vrtilek. This near miniature design bookbinding was featured in the 1987 exhibition: "The Best Contemporary Czechoslovakian Design Bookbinders", at Jan & Jarmila Sobota's Saturdays' Gallery, and is described & pictured on p. 4-5 of the printed catalogue (a copy of this catalogue accompanies this item).