peter pauper's drink book

a rad library reader, joseph, sent in some scans of ruth mccrea's illustrations for peter pauper's drink book...i've spoken (unabashedly) of my love for all things peter pauper press, and i was overjoyed!

joseph is a graphic designer in nyc and has an appreciation for such things as well...thank you kindly joseph for sharing these illustrations with us!

peter pauper's drink book: a guide to drinks and drinking compiled by peter beilenson
1964, peter pauper press, mt. vernon
illustrated by ruth mccrea

peter pauper's book of fun

another peter pauper press book for my collection. another with silkscreen illustrations!

peter pauper's book of fun
1963, peter pauper press, mount vernon
illustrated by albert eisler

cherry-blossoms

i've mentioned before how much i love these little books published by peter pauper press...i have quite a few now, making it a small collection. i just picked this one up. the woodcut illustrations are really charming.

cherry-blossoms: japanese haiku series 3
translations of poems by basho, buson, issa, shiki and others.
1960, the peter pauper press, new york
illustrations and decorative lettering by jeff hill

on friendship: a selection

i've posted about peter pauper press before...really i can't accurately express how enamored i am with this once little press...this book, on friendship: a selection is my favorite of all. at least of the books i've seen so far. it's super special because it's illustrated by eric carle of the very hungry caterpillar fame...the illustrations are hand silkscreened, i have another copy where the pink and green used are much lighter...i love these slight differences...and all of the illustrations are magically delicious...it's just a really endearing book that would make a lovely valentine's gift, i think!

on friendship: a selection edited by louise bachelder
1st edition, 1966, peter pauper press, mount vernon, ny
illustrated by eric carle

peter pauper press

i've been collecting peter pauper press books for a long time...i first discovered them at this great book sale in lancaster county, pennsylvania. peter pauper press was devoted to publishing fine gift books, in smaller sizes with exemplary design and illustration inclusions and overall high quality production. these books are real treasures, and when i see one i get it. i find it very interesting that the press was started by a husband and wife team in the basement of their mount vernon, ny home. you can read more about the history of this press here. all the books i own appear to be letterpress printed. i own several titles by this press, including:
chinese proverbs from olden times by harry behn (not credited - 1956)
comic epitaphs from the very best old graveyards gathered and published by peter pauper press and illustrated by henry r. martin (1957)
simple new england cookery compiled by edna beilenson (said wife) and illustrated by ruth mccrea (1962)
the japanese tea ceremony interpreted by julia v. nakamura and illustrated by shiba sumitani (1965)
on friendship: a selection edited by louise bachelder with illustrations by eric carle (1966)
the hunting of the snark and other nonsense verse by lewis carroll and illustrated by AW...i would love to know more about this illustrator, but i haven't had any luck figuring out what AW stands for...anyone have any info? (not dated)
i've written more about the press and my collection on my other blog here. and this is a fantastic set on flickr.