Calyban's Wood Type Whimsy. Volume 1: Numerology of Wood Type
New York: Caliban Press, 2020. Full Leather. Fine binding. Item #9402
Tall octavo. [3 (blanks)], [44], [2 (prospectus)], [3 (blanks)] ll. Limited edition, number 5 of 100 copies, signed by McMurray. Originally issued by McMurray in a spiral binding with heavy printed wrappers; the printer notes that this was "[p]rinted on various scrap papers found at Caliban Press over time. Canada, China, England, France, Germany, India, Japan, Mexico, Nepal, and Spain are all represented—including Papeterie St-Armand." It includes fold-outs, a volvelle, and slide-outs. This copy is finely bound by Donald Glaister in full goat skin with onlays of laminated mylar and sanded and painted aluminum on the front and back boards. There are also recessed areas on both boards with acrylic painted lines at some perimeter edges. Polished top-edge with silk endbands; painted cork endpapers. The leaves, original covers, and prospectus have been mounted on guards with a portion of the perforations from the spiral binding still visible with intention, a way in which Glaister is engaging with McMurray's style and playfulness that present throughout this specimen book. Even the clamshell box holding the book has a compartment containing the original red spiral, a toy begging to be played with.
McMurray describes this type specimen of numerals as a way to document a collection of more than 4 dozen cases and around 75 fonts. It became evident that a complete catalogue was far too expansive for a single volume, so this, the first volume, was just numerals. Far from a straightforward specimen book, McMurray's playfulness and humor engage the viewer throughout. And engaged Glaister in his design. He writes in his artist’s statement: "Mark McMurray has compiled a wonderfully designed collection of families of numbers from his collection. The is almost without words, only numbers . . . The design for the binding is as simple and as complicated as the binary system. A '1' and a '0' on each cover is all there is. However, these numbers are presented differently, subtly, richly and with great care as to their design and positions. These forms and qualities are a mirror of the text within." A wonderful book, beautifully bound by one of the premier designer bookbinders in the country.
Price: $5,500.00