The Man Who Died
[Covelo]: The Yolla Bolly Press, [1992]. Baskin, Leonard. Limited Edition. Hardcover. No. 52 of 130 copies, folio size, 107 pp., signed by Leonard Baskin and John Fowles, with prospectus and "The Making of the Book" Fine. Item #19110801
David Herbert Lawrence (1885-1930) was extremely controversial for his day due to works such as "Lady Chatterley's Lover" (first published in 1928), and at the time of his death, his public reputation was that of a pornographer who had wasted his considerable talents. E. M. Forster, in an obituary notice, challenged this widely held view, describing him as "The greatest imaginative novelist of our generation" and he remains highly regarded today (n.b., info and quote from Wikipedia).
This work, "The Man Who Died", published in 1929 (just a year before Lawrence's death), shows the deeply religious side of Lawrence. "In 'The Man Who Died' Lawrence writes eloquently of Christ's new life on earth: the agony of his awakening, his solemn yearing for peace, and his quickening to the pleasures of earthly life" (n.b., from prospectus).
With an extensive commentary at the rear by John Robert Fowles (1926-2005), the highly-regarded British novelist who penned, among many others, "The French Lieutenant's Woman" (1969).
This Yolla Bolly Press edition was the first illustrated, limited edition of the work offered by an American press. With nine woodcut illustrations by Leonard Baskin (1922-2000), both drawn by him and carved by him in cherry wood blocks, the entire edition printed directly from the blocks. Baskin founded The Gehenna Press in 1942, while he was studying at Yale University; Baskin was a sculptor, printmaker, illustrator, wood engraver, book artist, writer and teacher, and his work is often compared to William Blake, who was also the author, artist, and printer of his work.
A lavishly-done publication of a story who may surprise some who still think of D.H. Lawrence as "a pornographer".
___DESCRIPTION: Bound in full Japanese cotton over boards, on the front board a debossed cross, fore-edge uncut, handmade tan endpapers (from the Twinrocker Paper Mill), title page in black and brown, the nine woodcuts in tan and black bound in throughout the text; Bembo types on mould-formed Somerset paper from England, folio size (14 1/4" by 10 3/8"), pagination: [i-iv] [1-2] 3-101 [1, blank] [1, colophon]; produced in a limited edition of 130 total copies (only 100 of which were for sale), of which 85 were bound thus in cotton, 35 were bound in vellum, and ten were offered in sheets. Housed in the publisher's slipcase of sturdy cardboard covered in natural linen, paper spine label with black lettering and decoration and a tan border. Loosely laid in are (i) the prospectus, two sheets folded once to form eight pages, containing the usual information found in a prospectus and one sample woodcut ("reduced from artist's block"), the prospectus measuring 12 1/8" by 9 1/2"); and (ii) a brochure entitled "The Making of the Book" which provides more details and specifications, as well as reproducing five black-and-white photographs of those involved in its making, a single sheet folded once to four pages, measuring 10 3/4" by 7 1/2".
___CONDITION: Fine, the boards clean and without wear, 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; crisp and as new. The slipcase fine overall, strong and sturdy, without wear or splits, with a bit of sunning around the permiter of both sides; the prospectus and brochure both fine, clean and without wear.
___POSTAGE: Please note that this is an unsually large and heavy book and additional postage may apply; please inquire for details.
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Price: $1,750.00