Nightwatch. Poems by Bei Dao with two Hanga woodcuts by Bill Paden, calligraphy by Er Tai Gao, and translation by David Hinton with Yanbing Chen

Hopewell, NJ: Pied Oxen Press, 1998. First separate edition of these poems by one of China's foremost living writers, printed in both the original Chinese and an English translation by David Hinton and Yanbing Chen, the two texts running in opposite directions. One of 40 numbered copies (out of a total edition of 60 copies) signed by Bei Dao (in both Chinese and English), David Hinton, Er Tai Gao and the printer; there were also 20 hors commerce copies. The translation was set in Stempel Optima types, and the Chinese printed from type-high photo-engravings of the original calligraphy by Er Tai Gao. The two tipped-in woodcuts have been produced on Echizen-hosho: Yamaguchi, kizuki-kozo, sarashi facing the English title page and Yamada Number 42, kizuki-kozo, sarashi facing the Chinese title. Nine color areas cut into five blocks of Shina plywood and ten printing steps were involved with the former. Four color areas cut into three blocks of Honoki and seven printing steps were involved with the latter. Each woodcut is numbered and signed by the late Bill Paden, the Western master of the form. As new, at publisher's price. Folio, original linen boards bound dos-à-dos with two spines, covers and spine labels. As new, at publisher's price.