I spotted this over-sized treasure lying flat in its dusty case
on a high shelf at Powell’s Books.
A stool was needed for my son to bring it down.
It was published in 1936 by Peter Pauper Press
and dedicated to Edwin Arlington Robinson.
Much to my surprise, there are uncut pages scattered throughout.
Seventy-five years, and the book has yet to be read.
It was even signed by the poet.
“This edition of Prelude to Man, set in Janson type,
and printed on specially-made paper,
consists of three hundred seventy-five copies for sale,
of which this is number 104.”
Prelude to Man
Decorations by Valenti Angelo
Peter Pauper Press
(1936)
[click on images to enlarge]
2 comments:
What a wonderful book to find, William. It is a lovely large book. I love when I find books that are numbered as to how many were printed, and I have one of the lower numbers!
I have a feeling that this book will finally be read :)
No doubt about it. But first I’ll have to perform delicate surgery on those uncut pages. I have a sharp blade reserved especially for that purpose. And I didn’t realize until we’d brought it home that it was a numbered edition. That information is in the back, and it was difficult to page through the book in the store. What a beautiful surprise. Thanks, Jan!
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