The Temptations of a Saint

California: Ettan Press [printed by Patrick Reagh], 1980. First and Limited Edition. Hardcover. Fine. Hernández, José. One of 90 copies, elephant folio size, 8 pp., separate etching signed by José Hernández. Édouard Roditi (1910-1992) achieved acclaim through his "numerous volumes of poetry, short stories, and art criticism starting with 'Poems for F' (his first book, 'inspired by a two-year affair with a married man...Roditi kept the identity of F. secret to the end of his life' " (n.b., info and quotes from Wiki).

José Hernández (1944-2013) who (according to Wiki) "was daydreaming at the age of 17 and drew angry cats." He became well-known for his illustrations for works by many famous authors, such as James Joyce, Arthur Rimbaud, Federico Garcia Lorca, and Franz Kafka, among many others (n.b., info and quotes from Wiki).

Author and artist merged their considerable talents in this work, "The Temptations of a Saint", a surrealistic short story about a man who lives alone...with all his needs invisibly supplied...but then the dreams start.... Vividly brought to life with two original etchings, a smaller one on the title page, and a full-page, separate etching loosely laid in.

Note that there is a personal inscription at the colophon: "and this (?) give to Susan & Bert / with my best wishes for the / anniversary of joy, and importance / by the designer (?) / (signature) / La Jolla, 30th Nov. 90 (?)".

___DESCRIPTION: Bound in full taupe laid paper over boards, black lettering stamped onto the spine, the smaller etching (measuring 5 3/4" by 3 1/4") mounted onto the title page with a tissue guard loosely laid in, the separate etching laid in in the middle of the text pages, also with loose tissue guard; printed on heavy Arches paper, elephant folio size (15 1/8" by 11 1/4"), pagination: [i] [2, blanks] 1-2 [2, blanks with separate etching inserted between] 3-4 [1, blank] [1, colophon], this no. 65 of 90 copies (total edition 100). Housed in a sturdy cardboard slipcase covered in the same laid paper as the book.

___CONDITION: Volume fine, with clean boards, 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 also fine, strong and sturdy, without tears or splits, clean and without wear.

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