[Illustrated Books] (KUTHAN, George]

Kuthan's Menagerie Completed [Edition Limited to 50 Copies, Using Original 1960 Nevermore Press Leaves]

Vancouver (BC): Heavenly Monkey [and Nevermore Press], 2003. George Kuthan. Limited Edition. Loose leaves presented in folio. 4to. Preface by Robert R. Reid. Thirteen original Nevermore Press folded sheets as issued, printed in 1960, within a Chinese-yellow inner wrap, with three contemporary (2003) Heavenly Monkey folded sheets, all in a blindstamped wrap of St. Armand handmade paper. Housed in a deep red cloth-covered clamshell box with printed paper labels mounted on the front panel and spine. Of an edition limited to 50 copies, this is hand-numbered copy # 32. Signed by Robert Reid on the colophon, itself printed on an sheet from the original printing. Near Fine / Fine. Item #5142

First published by Nevermore Press, 1960, Kuthan's Menagerie of Interesting Zoo Animals, showcasing George Kuthan's multi-color linocuts of intriguing animals, put Robert Reid on the fine press map. The unbound sheets languished in the printer's shop until Reid and Heavenly Monkey bought them from an intermediary, and presented them here as a livre d’artiste, with addenda. Some offsetting to the pages opposite the linocuts. The 1960 sheet on which the 2003 colophon is printed features some old wrinkles, now mellowed; a dampstain, roughly 2 x 3 at its broadest, extends from the top right of front panel over to the top left of the rear panel. (Please see photos.) A sumptuous set.

Price: $1,100.00