Lot 75. Melville, Herman. Moby-Dick; or, The Whale. Printed in San Francisco in 1979 by the Arion Press.
577 pp. Illustrated with 100 wood engravings by Barry Moser; plus an original pen-and-ink sketch "Call Me Ishmael" signed by Moser matching wave illustration on page 2; and an unused printed illustration for the work signed by Moser, both laid in. 15x10, full blue Moroccan goatskin, spine lettered in silver, blue cloth slipcase. 1 of 265 copies (of which 250 were for sale) printed by Andrew Hoyem at the Arion Press, in handset Goudy Modern on paper handmade by Barcham Green at Hayle Mill. One of the masterpieces from the Arion Press, a superb printing of this American literary high spot, with striking illustrations drawn and engraved by Barry Moser. William Everson wrote in Fine Print: "Historically, the two great typographical edifices of West Coast printing are the Grabhorn Leaves of Grass and the Nash Divine Comedy. Now the Arion Press Moby-Dick takes its place beside them. This constitutes a feat of craftsmanship unexcelled in modern printing." Includes 6 related paper items: prospectus booklet, invitation, order form, autograph letter signed by Andrew Hoyem (on letterhead) to Patrick Perry dated May 30, 1978 discussing Moby Dick and the special edition of "about 25 copies" etc., the original mailing envelope to Mr. Perrym and an autograph note by Margaret Green (of Arion Press), all laid in. Estimated $7,000 to $10,000.
Lot 38. [Lowell, James Russell]. The Vision of Sir Launfal [Excerptus]. Printed in San Francisco in 1943 by the Allen Press.
3.75x4.5, silk-screened cloth over boards, string-tied inside, housed in recent 1/4 green morocco & fine cloth drop-back box with gilt-titled spine, interior with specially fitted section for book. 1 of 75 copies printed on all-rag paper by Lewis & Dorothy Allen. The third book from the Allen Press. Allen Press Biblio. 3. Estimated $5,000 to $8,000.
Lot 307. Shakespeare, William. Original Leaves from the First Four Folios of the Plays of William Shakespeare, 1623, 1632, 1663, 1685. Printed in San Francisco by the Grabhorn Press for David McGee.
Introduction by Edwin Eliott Willoughby. With an original leaf from each of the four folios tipped in; and facsimiles of the titles of the four folios. (Folio) 14.5x9.75, 1/4 red morocco and patterned paper over boards, spine lettered in gilt. No. 37 of 65 copies on Whatman paper, printed by The Grabhorn Press. The original leaves are as follows: first folio, The Winter's Tale, pp.293-294; second folio, The First Part of King Henry the Fourth, pp.59-60 (an old marginal ink note); third folio, The Tragedy of Macbeth, pp.727-728; fourth folio, The Tragedy of Hamlet, pp.81-82. GB 234.
Estimated $4,000 to $7,000
Rare Book Monthly
The Volkmann Collection Concludes with a Sale May 8th
An early Ansel Adams portfolio.
