Monday, December 19, 2011

Snow Books

A Patch of Old Snow by Robert Frost is a miniature book designed by my friend Margery Hellman of The Holburne Press in 2002. It was printed in an edition of 50 at Bonnie Thompson Norman's The Windowpane Press. Knowing of my personal penchant for the snowflake, my good friend Bonnie presented this to me as a gift several years ago, and I have always treasured it greatly. As all of Margery's books, they are a recipe of thoughtfulness and craftsmanship, with a good measure of character. Her books are as much poetry in motion as the poet's words which she handsets in type (with her strained vision). This particular little book of hers is a beautiful interpretation of Frost's lovely poem. The book opens like a snowflake fractal, and letters and ornaments fall on the page like a dusting of light snow. After reading the short verse twice—you soon discover Margery's note near the end—When reciting his short poems, Frost frequently would repeat them. Now this gives me the happy feeling of snowfall accumulation * . * . * !


This spread reveals a pop-up sheet of vellum with text lightly printed in what appears to be a snow forecast from a newspaper, which nicely resonates with Frost's poem. 


The repeated verse on the clear vellum.
The single spreads of this book are backed with vellum papers which are structural, and the boards are attached separately. The attached "dust" cover is a clear vellum which reveals the title and gives it a nice frosty feel. The book is only 3" in height with 5 full spreads. There are a few more copies still available from Vamp & Tramp Booksellers as well as more of her books listed here.
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Below is another small book of meditations which has nothing to do with snow other than conveying purity I presume. The cover design knocked me out when I saw it. The title page is pretty elaborate typography too. No publisher's date on it, but the inscription on the endsheet is dated 1887. The 4" tall book is printed in London by The Religious Tract Society. 
* * * Let it snow * * *    * * * Let it snow * * *    * * * Let it snow * * *

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