Showing posts with label Children's Book. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Children's Book. Show all posts

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Books: The Gift that Keeps on Giving


In 1865, Boston-based printer Louis Prang (1824-1909), introduced the Christmas Stocking Library, a boxed set of chapbooks full of holiday merriment for the kiddies. This was published nine years before he introduced the first commercial Christmas card to the American public in 1874. Prang, a German immigrant, learned the art of dyeing, printing, and engraving from his father who was a textile printer of calico fabrics. In 1848 Prang was forced to flee Germany because of his political opposition to the Prussian government. Two years later he arrived in Boston and supported himself by making wood engravings for various publications and eventually partnered with Julius Mayer to form Prang and Mayer, Lithographic Printers. They specialized in the printing of business cards, advertisements, and other job printing, and also gained some success with the printing of a series of colored album cards featuring scenic landscapes, animals and flowers which were sold for $3/dozen inside a patented envelope. Just like this boxed set of Christmas chapbooks, the illustrated album cards were printed in four colors, each drawn on stone and folded into accordion structures. The label appearing on the box of the Christmas Stocking Library was printed five solid colors.  




The title page and interior illustrations in each chapbook are early examples of Prang's chromolithography.


As a side story to this lovely little Christmas Stocking Library; it was sold last February at the PBA Galleries auction for $5500. This very rare boxed set belonged to book collector, Pamela Harer, who I last reported on July 3, 2014 when she attended the opening of her Early 20th Century Soviet Children's Books exhibition held at the University of Washington's Allen Library in Seattle. Unbeknownst to me at the time, Pamela was very ill and died the day before I wrote the post. She lived just long enough to receive a private family tour of her remarkable exhibit on July 1st, and quietly died at home on the following day. This exhibit was a dream Pamela had envisioned for many years. It was also her remaining wish that this rare collection of Soviet children's books was to permanently reside at the UW Library. Although much of her research was sadly eclipsed by her illness, Pamela Harer's collection of early 20th century Soviet children's literature remains intact and we can all benefit from her generous gift. At this time her collection has not been entirely digitized, however an earlier endowment of her rare 18th - 20th century children's literature can be seen here. Happily, the gift of books is everlasting. Happy holidays all!

Thursday, July 3, 2014

The Greatest Cake on Earth

This edible oversized cake is nearly too sweet for words. It is a remarkable replica of one of the 20th century's greatest Russian children's books, Tsirk (Circus) written by Samuil Marshak and illustrated by Vladimir Lebedev. It is also the culinary creation of Eleanor Ionis of Ella's Cakes. In the publishing world, this book facsimile might be considered an infringement of intellectual property, but in this instance, she has artistic license to thrill. No detail was overlooked, including the headbands and page leaves. And just as every book has a story, this "greatest cake on earth" is no exception. 
     To honor the publication of a long-awaited book catalog and exhibition of early 20th century Soviet children's books, this magnificent cake was recently presented to book collector and author of the catalog, Pamela K. Harer by her husband, family and friends. Long an avid collector and scholar of early 19th and 20th century children's books, Pamela Harer has spent years researching and assembling this prized collection of Soviet children's literature, and beginning this week, her curated collection will be on display until October 24, 2014 at the Allen Library, University of Washington, Special Collections in Seattle. Both her collection and breadth of knowledge about these spectacular books are an achievement few others have gained, making it a highly recommended visit. Earlier this week I had a brief opportunity to see the exhibition, and I promise to report on it in much greater detail in coming weeks.




Like any great book, this one was devoured from beginning to end and will not be on display at the library. A 1928 edition of Tsirk (Circus) will do nicely in it's place however.



The poster for Harer's exhibition "From the Lowly Lubok to Soviet Realism" also features Lebedev's cover illustration. Below is a photo of Pamela Harer staring in stunned surprise at the presentation of her wondrous cake.


Friday, February 28, 2014

Sm;)e


This makes me smile. Mona Lisa is seen through the eyes of 6 and 7 year-olds and a few grown-ups. Another great project from illustrator Marion Deuchers, with animation by studio aka in the UK. The book makes me happy too. 















Some of my favorite Mona Lisa smiles. More can be seen here. 




See a whole crowd of Mona's here.

Friday, January 10, 2014

The Rebus Riddle Rhymes of Mother Goose


One can't help but fall in love with Joseph Low's spirited pen work. This video presentation takes a close view at some of my favorite works of his, from the playful Mother Goose Riddle Rhymes, first published in 1953 by Harcourt, Brace & Co., NY, which he co-wrote with his wife, Ruth Low. Joseph Low's expressive line art illustrations of rebus rhymes and riddles are perfectly paired with his fine type and hand lettering compositions. The New York Times later awarded it the "Best Illustrated Children's Book of the Year" in 1953, and AIGA named it one of the top "Fifty Books of the Year" in 1954. Joseph Low (1911-2007) eventually achieved a long and varied career as a successful illustrator of books, magazine and album covers. In 1960 he acquired an old Washington hand press from a defunct newspaper and began his own private press, publishing short stories and poetry under the imprint "Eden Hill Press" from Newton, Connecticut. Prized by collectors, these limited edition books reveal his diverse talents as writer, illustrator, printer, typographer, and lettering artist.







::Source: Cligne Cligne Magazine

Monday, December 16, 2013

Some Seasonal Samplings

"The Little Gallery", which opened in England 1928, was an influential crafts gallery owned by Muriel Rose (1897-1986), a pioneer in the 20th century crafts movement. She championed the work of many innovative textile artists, pottery and folk artists of the day until the gallery closed in 1939. These images are from the Crafts Study Centre, via Venetian Red, yet I could not find any reference or credit for the delightful pen work in the holiday image above, which showcases the galleries wares. It looks like it could be the work of Barbara Jones possibly, but I cannot trace it to her either. If anyone has a clue who I should attribute this to, please let me know. 

Update: A kind reader informed me that this charming illustration was the hand of artist and designer, Alan (Sam) Smith who began working and exhibiting some of his work at Muriel Rose's shop in 1935. This illustration was used for a holiday promotional card for The Little Gallery in 1936. "Lots of surprises in all handy sizes". 


Another brilliant artist, Margaret Bryan produced these festive illustrations for A Children's Almanac in 1947. They appear as if they could even be from the same hand as the illustration above. Bryan's background also remains a mystery, but she was obviously a very accomplished illustrator. View the entire set of her artworks from this almanac at Full Table.




The work of contemporary British artist, Emily Sutton always lifts my spirits, even on the coldest days. Her hand lettering capabilities are just as endearing as her colorful illustrations with the many patterns. These first two festive scenes below are part of a larger pack of recent holiday cards produced for Godfrey & Watt, an online artist gallery of some sizeable talents. The Dickens at Christmas illustration is a new cover title from Vintage Classics. See many more of Sutton's work here.



Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Ghost Writing



When I was ten years old in Mrs. Rogers 4th grade class, I was a member of the Scholastic Book Club. Illustrated catalogs would occasionally arrive from the book company featuring cheap paperback books on science, space exploration, adventure, elephant jokes, and sappy teen novels. Most of the covers were pretty goofy, however some were exceptionally nice with illustrated mid-century patterns. Surely it was a great source of income for many accomplished illustrators at that time. I'm not sure exactly why I was particularly attracted to this Spooky Magic book, but I suspect it was the wacky type with the googlie eyeballs on the coverA real deal at 45 cents!


Source of 1963 Scholastic Books order form and lots more: Tattered and Lost Ephemera.





Inside there were lots of amusing science and magic experiments, but none delighted me more than the chapter on ghost writing. It was a magic trick for secret lettering and could easily be performed at home with a fresh lemon, a paintbrush, paper, a candle, and matches. Was Scholastic Books encouraging child endangerment or was it spooky science? You decide! 




Being a bit of an arty nerd, I decided to make a haunted Halloween house, just so I could show all my friends this really neato trick I could do with spooky ghost lettering. I set up a table and chairs in a small hall closet where I could close the door and burn a candle in the dark (kids, don't do this at home), to expose the ghost lettering for a line of bemused and probably confused friends.  





Despite my lack of parental supervision, I didn't burn down the house. I guess it was a mild success. I must have earned my arty nerd badge for life, as I still enjoy this ploy. I hadn't thought about ghost lettering in years, but had a momentary flashback when I saw the Spooky Magic book here, where you can learn many more spooky magic tricks.


I had to try this trick once again at home. It's science-errific! For more Scholastic Books' flashbacks check out this fun Flickr set.


Arty Nerd Badge. Get yours here!