Baskin, Leonard

Demons, Imps & Fiends [WITH ORIGINAL PENCIL SKETCH BY BASKIN]

[Northampton, Mass.]: The Gehenna Press, 1976. Baskin, Leonard. Limited Edition. Hardcover. No. 107 of 450 copies, quarto size, 42 pp., inscribed by Leonard Baskin. Near Fine. Item #CNJL617

Leonard Baskin (1922-2000) was an artistic genius whose works almost defy categorization. Eminent in sculpting, illustration, printmaking and also as a typographer and printer, he pursued multiple art forms all of which have, as an underlying thread, social consciousness and a high regard for humanity (N.B., above information from the website of the Galerie St. Etienne). Mr. Baskin founded The Gehenna Press in 1942 while at Yale University, taking his inspiration from William Blake's example as both a poet and an artist/bookmaker. This book, published by the Gehenna Press in 1976, contains 19 drawings by Baskin of various mythological and frightening humans and beasts, and features an ORIGINAL PENCIL SKETCH of the head and upper body of a skeleton, signed by him and dated 1992; on the facing page he inscribed the work: "for ----- from Leonard Baskin".

___DESCRIPTION: Bound in marbled paper boards, black leather spine label with gilt lettering, plain endpapers, blue paper title page printed in red and black, the original pencil sketch on the recto of the flyleaf prior to the title page with the inscription facing, the sole text in the book following the title page comprised of a quote from St. Bernard of Clairvaux, the book was printed by Harold McGrath in the autumn of 1976 "on various interesting papers" (per the book's colophon). The printed illustrations are indeed on various papers both in type and colour, one printed in red and black and the rest printed all in black. Quarto size (approximately 11.25" tall), unpaginated with 20 printed leaves (all type and illustrations on rectos only), limited edition of 450 copies, this no. 107, SIGNED BY BASKIN on the colophon page in addition to the personal inscription at the front, prior bookseller ticket at the bottom of the rear pastedown.

___CONDITION: Overall near fine, with a strong, square text block, solid hinges, straight corners with a minimum of rubbing, the interior is clean and bright, and other than Mr. Baskin's sketch and inscription it is entirely free of prior owner markings; there is some light overall edgewear, else fine.

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Price: $3,000.00