The Hen and the Cat; An Aesops Fable
Santa Cruz: [Good Book Press], 1988. Limited Edition. Hardcover. One of four copies, miniature, 9 pp. Fine. Item #26070202
This lovely miniature book was issued in an edition of only four copies, with the calligraphy done by ahd by Donna and with three watercolour illustrations. It is a version of Aesop's fable "The Hen and the Cat", with the moral being to be wise and shun the quack.
Peter and Donna Thomas started their press in 1976; in 1988 (three years after this book was published) they changed the name of their press from the "Good Book Press" to their names. They are "one of very few presses where the proprietors write the text, create the art for the illustrations, make the paper, handset the type, print on a letterpress, and bind the book" (n.b., Bradbury p. 302).
Scarce (hardly suprising in an edition of four copies); none online as of this writing, our search of OLCL located no copies with institutions.
___DESCRIPTION: Bound in quarter leather over marbled paper boards with gilt lettering on the spine, title page in red and brown with coral decorative lines, initial word of text in red, with three watercolour illustrations, the colophon also opens in red, this no. 2 of four copies; miniature size (2 1/8" by 1 5/8"), [6] pp., the final page the full-page watercolour, [1, blank] [1, colophon].
___CONDITION: Fine overall, the boards clean, straight corners with just a hint of rubbing, a strong, square text block with solid hinges, the interior is clean and bright, and entirely free of prior owner markings; a pencilled notation on the front pastedown, likely from a prior bookseller.
___CITATION: Peter and Donna Thomas Bibliography, no. B13.
___POSTAGE: International customers, please note the following: (i) additional postage may apply as the standard does not always cover costs, please inquire for details; and (ii) any taxes, duty, or tariffs charged by your country will, of necessity, be your responsibility.
___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: $400.00