A Gorey Festival: The Fatal Lozenge, The Curious Sofa, The Hapless Child, and The Sinking Spell
New York: Ivan Obolensky / Astor-Honor, [1968]. Gorey, Edward. Original wraps. Four volumes issued in publisher’s slipcase, sixeenmo size, unpaginated with 112 leaves for all volumes. Near fine. Item #16113186
Edward Gorey (1925-2000) is well known both for his "Masterpiece Theatre" illustrated opening sequence as well as for his poisonously funny miniature picture books which are complex, humorous, serious, and provocative. His vast body of work includes over 100 books written by himself, as well as having illustrated works by many well-known authors such as T. S. Eliot, Charles Dickens, Lewis Carroll, H. G. Wells, and Virginia Woolf (n. b. info from the Edward Gorey House website). This work includes four previously published volumes in a publisher's slipcase with a pastedown label illustrated by Gorey.
___DESCRIPTION: Set of four books in coloured wrappers, including “The Fatal Lozenge” (in yellow wrappers), “The Sinking Spell” (in tan), “The Hapless Child” (in teal), and “The Curious Sofa” (in pink), black lettering on the covers and spines, illustrations on both front and back wraps, all volumes are fully illustrated with text and illustrations, on the recto only of each page for three volumes, illustrations on recto and text on verso of "Sinking Spell'; sixteenmo size (6" tall by 5"), unpaginated, three volumes with 32 leaves, "Sinking Spell" with 16 leaves. Note that the publisher is noted as Obolensky on the spines and copyright pages of all four volumes, the title page lists Astor-Honor as publisher in three of the volumes, "Sinking Spell" lists Obolensky as the publisher on the title page. In publisher’s blue-green slipcase with yellow, green, and black stamping on Gorey illustrated label.
___CONDITION: Volumes could be called fine, each has brightly coloured wrappers, the corners are sharp and unrubbed, all pages are clean and bright, and the set is free of prior owner markings; two of the spines appear slightly sunned, and there is minuscule wear to the tail of two of the spines, two of the volumes have a very shallow crease at the front joint. The slipcase is near fine, strong and sturdy and with a bright, glossy label; a few stray light soil marks on both front and back, very minor wear to corners.
___CITATION: Toledano A28; note that publication date is from Toledano, each volume has only the original copyright date.
___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.
Price: $150.00