Mia Cranwill (2 results)

Hardcover. Condition: Near fine. Cranwill, Mia (illustrator). Limited Edition. One of 225 copies, octavo size, 40 pp. This story "Being the Exile and Death of the Sons of Usnech", a portion of the "Book of Leinster", an Irish manuscript compiled in the middle of the twelfth century. The work translated by Thomas Kinsella (1928-2021), a university professor and poet whose first work was published by The Dolman Press, founded in 1951 specifically to publish Irish poetry, including works by Yeats. The illustrations by Mia Cranwill (1880-1972), "one of the leading artists of the Irish Celtic Revival." She created numerous pieces of metalwork, most of original design, many pieces for high churchmen; George Bernard Shaw referred to her as "the Irish Benvenuto Cellini" (n.b., quotes from Wiki). A scarce publication, as of this writing we see only one other copy in the online marketplace; our search of OCLC finds no copies, as does our seach of the British Library online (which, as of this writing, is still experiencing problems from the cyberattack). ___DESCRIPTION: Bound in decorated tan paper (the decoration based on the illustration found on p. 18) over boards, parchment shelfback with brown lettering, frontis and two other full-page black-and-white illustrations bound in throughout with an additional six smaller illustrations (chapter headpieces and in-text), illustrated title page, each section opens with a three-line red initial capital; octavo size (8 7/8" by 5 3/4"), pagination: [1-8] 9-32 [33-40], limited edition of 225 copies, this being no. 224. ___CONDITION: Near fine, with clean boards, straight corners without rubbing, a strong, square text block with solid hinges, the interior is clean and bright, and entirely free of prior owner markings; some light rubbing to the decorated front board, light dustiness to the parchment shelfback, and very light toning to the endpapers; altogether a lovely copy. ___POSTAGE: International customers, please note that additional postage may apply as the standard does not always cover costs; please inquire for details. ___Swan's Fine Books is pleased to be a member of the ABAA, ILAB, and IOBA and we stand behind every book we sell. Please contact us with any questions you may have, we are here to help.

120/200 COPIES (from an edition of 225 copies), title and initial letters printed in red, title-page design, 5 headpieces and 2 full-page illustrations by Mia Cranwill (see below), one leaf at rear a little creased at corner, pp. 32, [1], 8vo, original quarter white boards, the sides with buff paper patterned with a Cranwill design, gentle knock at foot of backstrip, some very faint white marks to lower board and a little wear at extremities, textblock edges a little toned, very good. Signed by the illustrator on the initial blank: 'from Mia Cranwill, Xmas 1955'. Laid in are two autograph letters from Cranwill to the dancer and artist Claire Faraci: the first, 1p., from the time of the inscription, thanks Faraci and her mother for the cards and sends this book; the second, 2pp., from ten years later, explains that she no longer writes much 'since my right hand is crippled' and remembers a childhood gift as well as mentioning that Faraci's aunt often visits. Though explaining in some detail her poor health, Cranwill insists that she is 'always serene & happy'. Cranwill and Faraci had both been born in Ireland and moved to England in their youth (Cranwill returned to Dublin, whereas Faraci ended up in New York); the majority of her career was spent in metalwork, and her Celtic designs in this book have elements of that medium. Accompanied by an issue of 'The Irish Housewife Annual' from 1958, with an article on Cranwill's career. (Miller 16).