signed
1989 · Easthampton, MA
by Abcedary Press. Robinson, Alan James
Easthampton, MA: ABCedary Letterpress, 1989. One of 26 copies, all on T.H. Saunders watercolor paper for the text and B.F.K. Rivers for the etchings, interleaved with blue Moriki paper for the seal's story, with an additional suite of the plates each signed and numbered by the artist, Alan James Robinson, who has also numbered and signed the colophon which is also signed by the author, Mark Carol, and Brian Davies. Also included in this issue is an original drawing by Robinson, which he has signed in pencil. Page size: 11 x 15 inches; 74pp. Bound by Claudia Cohen and Sarah Creighton: full limp vellum with cut-out within gilt rule revealing woodengraving of head of seal pup, non-adhesive binding sewn on exposed vellum laces, blue headbands, extra suite housed in blue cloth folder, both book and folder housed in custom-made pale blue cloth clamshell box, title in gilt on vellum label on spine, box a bit faded else fine. The total edition of 80 included 25 copies bound in cloth, 25 bound in cloth with an extra suite, 26 bound in vellum with an extra suite and original drawing, and 4 copies with proof suites and manuscript pages. The text is set in Centaur with the seal's thoughts set in Arrighi italic printed by Harold Patrick McGrath. Hand calligraphy of ANCIENT NEEDS on the title page and on the colophon page in blue by Suzanne Moore. ANCIENT NEEDS is a story in prose and poetry about the harp seals by Mark Philip Carol, with eleven two-color aquatint and drypoint etchings printed by Sara Krohn and four woodengravings by Alan James Robinson, introduction by Brian Davies, founder of the International Fund for Animal Welfare. (Inventory #: 3692)