Themes in Aquatint

San Francisco: The Book Club of California [printed at the Curwen Press], 1978. Limited First Edition. Hardcover. Fine/very good +. One of 500 copies, folio size, [112] pp., with prospectus. A significant illustrated study of the aquatint medium for book illustration, by antiquarian bookseller and bibliographer Colin Franklin; he is also author of "The Private Presses" and is considered an authority on the subject. The book was designed by John Dreyfus and printed at the Curwen Press, the first Book Club publication to be produced entirely in England.

___DESCRIPTION: Quarter red cloth, Cockerell marbled paper over boards, title in gilt to (truncated) backstrip, sixteen numbered plates including frontis (not included in pagination); Bell monotype type, machine made paper, folio size (14 1/2" by 9 3/8"), pagination: [i-iv] v-vii [viii] 1-103 [104], limited first edition, one of 500 copies. In a plain white paper dust jacket. With the prospectus, a single sheet folded to four pages with a sample illustration loosely inserted.

___CONDITION: Volume fine, the boards clean, the spine unrubbed, 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; as new. The dust jacket a bit better than very good, with minor overall soiling and minimal edgewear, with one closed tear (approx. one-inch long) at the top of the back panel, a previous owner pencilled the word "Aquatint" on the spine of the jacket. Prospectus near fine, with very light wear.

___CITATION: BCC, no. 160.

___POSTAGE: International customers, please note that additional postage may apply as the standard shipping charge does not always cover costs; 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 you may have, we are here to help. (Inventory #: 33330402)