The recent catalogue from Sophie Schneideman Rare Books is the second catalogue of The Auchincloss Collection of Fine Printing & Press Books E-G. Kenneth Auchincloss was an enthusiastic member of the Grolier Club and one of his final works was published under its imprint. He chose the wood engraver Gaylord Schanilec to illustrate and print the book, New York Revisited. Auchincloss built up a fine collection of contemporary private press books. John Randle of the Whittington Press wrote of him: “He was a ceaseless and generous encourager to all, and his booming laugh and engaging presence were a constant tonic.”

A noted engraver, woodcutter and illustrator, Stephen Gooden is well known for his book illustrations. Printed and put together at the Kingsmill Press in Surrey La Fontaine. The Fables of Jean De La Fontaine. Translated into English Verse by Edward Marsh. The copy available and priced at £200 is number 354 of 525 copies, signed by both Gooden and Marsh. Stephen Gooden having re-introduced original line engraving to England during the 1920’s produced few independent engravings. His most famous bookplate was engraved as the private plate for the English Royal Family.

Alchemy and Marbling contains twenty-seven marbled paper samples by Karli Frigge which were produced over several years. They are in the old Dutch-style binding of a black morocco spine with printed pare covered boards which are tied together with red laces. The samples are preceded by seven chapters on the processes and alchemy involved in marbling, together with recipes for paint and for the particular marbling patterns which can be found in this book. The work is priced at £600.

One of only twenty-five deluxe copies signed by the author, Leanard Baskin’s Zapf’s Civilite Disclosed, adorned with terse & pithy Apothegms is valued at £2,800. The design of the pages uses mottos and apothegms as well as caustic observations which are joined together with printer’s flowers, rules and groupings all being part of Herman Zapf’s new version of Granjon’s Civilité typeface.

Twenty-one poems which were written by Eugenio Montale and were addressed to a woman who fled Italy to escape political and religious persecution are brought together under the title. Mottetti. The Motets of Eugenio Montale in Italian with facing English translations by Lawrence Kart. Both author and translator have signed this book which is one of 300 copies published by the Press of Grabhorn Hoyem. This item is for sale at £200.