Watkins, Vernon (1908-1967); Watkins, Gwen (Afterword); Cour, Glenys (Artist)

Taliesin and the Mockers [DESIGN BINDING - Paul Delrue]

[Monmouthshire]: The Old Stile Press, [2004]. Cour, Glenys. Limited Edition. Leather. No. 195 of 225 copies, folio size, 56 pp., signed by Gwen Watkins, Glenys Cour, and Paul Delrue. Fine. Item #CNPD01

This copy in a custom binding done in 2014 by Paul Delrue (b. 1944). Paul bound his first book at the age of 15 in 1959, and knew he had discovered his calling. He became an apprentice at the University College, London from 1961–64 and worked there as a binder until 1971, when he set up his own bindery. In 1981 was elected a Fellow of the Society of Bookbinders, having founded and served as chairman of the Chester and North Wales branch in 1979. Paul has earned numerous awards and honours, including the Silver medal and three other awards in 1991 in The Bookbinding Competition. He was elected a Fellow of Designer Bookbinders in the same year; the following year he was awarded two Bronze medals in the prestigious Prix Paul Bonet. Paul invented the lacunose style of binding which he has taught to other binders, although he uses other methods as well. His work is highly prized and springs from within him; as he writes on his web site, "A book and its binding are inextricably linked – the one complements the other in a way which creates something more than just a book with an attractive cover. My design bindings draw on what a book says to me and how it inspires me emotionally".

Glenys Cour who, with her sculptor husband, Ronald, was part of the famous group in Swansea that included Vernon Watkins and his close friend Dylan Thomas. Her richly powerful collage images help to make a journey through this large format book an extraordinary experience. She is, still today, a near neighbour in Swansea of Gwen Watkins who has given so much kind encouragement to the project and, in the Afterword, has written compellingly about her husband's life and work (N.B., info on artist from website of the Old Stile Press).

___DESCRIPTION: Custom binding in full leathers of blue, grey, black and tan, inlaid and embossed, the title of the work on the front with a seagull flying across a sun, the author on the back with the silhouette of a new moon, evoking thoughts of creation appropriate to the poem; Paul has used multiple and varying endpapers and flyleaves, ranging from a mottled grey, to black, blue and purple. The text was produced by the Old Stile Press, title page in blue and black, the images by Glenys Cour in black, text of the poem in blue; of the book, only 225 copies were printed, this being no. 195; the author of the Afterword and the Artist have both signed the colophon page; additionally, Paul Delrue as the binder for this copy has signed below with the date of 2014; the book is slightly oblong, the text block being just over 13" tall by 13.5" wide; unpaginated with 28 leaves; Omega type on Fabriano Tiziano. The book is protected by a custom box also made by Paul of blue linen cloth decorated simply but in a style which echoes the binding, gilt lettering on the front and spine, lined with natural linen.

___CONDITION: Both the book and the box are fine, as new; we acquired the book directly from the binder, it is pristine having come directly from his bindery.

___POSTAGE: Please note that due to the size and weight of this work additional postage may apply; we are happy to ship at cost to both domestic and international customers, 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, we are here to help.

Price: $3,500.00