California in Relief, Thirty Wood Engravings by Richard Wagener
San Francisco: The Book Club of California [designed and produced by Peter Rutledge Koch], 2009. Wagener, Richard. Limited Edition. Hardcover. One of 300 copies, folio size, 80 pp., signed by Richard Wagener. Fine / near fine. Item #26080202
The fourth book by Wagener, wherein he captures the memories of his youth of the rural areas surrounding Los Angeles. As Victoria Dailey sets forth in her introduction, "we see California in Wagener's work, but we also recognize something profound, something deeply personal, something psychologically provocative" and goes on to say "the images hover somewhere between reality and imagination, and rarely has wood engraving been used with such spectacular results."
___DESCRIPTION: Tan laid paper boards over an evergreen cloth shelfback, small wood engraving illustration laid into the front board, paper spine label, fore- and bottom edges uncut, rust laid paper endpapers, title page in red and black, illustration on title page mirrors that on the front board, wood engravings interspersed with several pages of text; designed by Peter Rutledge Koch, type DTL Elzevir printed letterpress from polymer plates on Zerkall Buttenpapier, folio size (12 1/2" by 7 3/4"), unpaginated with 40 leaves of text and illustrations, all on rectos only after the introduction; limited edition of 300 hundred copies (plus ten proof copies), this no. 49, signed by Richard Wagener at the colophon. There is a dust wrapper of white tissue with the same wood engraving illustration on the front as on the front board and title page; the book is enclosed in a publisher's slipcase covered with rust laid paper on the sides, green cloth on the top and bottom, paper spine label.
___CONDITION: Fine, the laid paper boards clean and unmarked, the corners straight and unrubbed, the binding tight with solid hinges, the interior clean and bright, and free of prior owner markings; clean, crisp, as new. The original tissue paper dust jacket near fine, clean and with light wear at the top edge and some creasing to the back panel; the slipcase fine, clean and free of marks or wear, strong and sturdy. Marvellous artistry by one of the greatest wood engravers still working today, wonderfully produced by one of the greatest printers.
___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.
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Price: $750.00