Artist Bio: “Shortly after completing her MLIS degree, Virginia McClure apprenticed with Dr. Paul Holbrook, Director of the King Library Press. During that time her work included setting and distributing type, operating, and maintaining Washington handpresses and Vandercook proof presses. She assisted with many of the King Library Press projects, including printing cards, broadsides, and printing and binding books. She was also able to design and execute a few of her own projects. Virginia is currently an MFA candidate in the University of Alabama’s Book Arts Program.” |
Woman with a Book in Her Hand
or The Small Press - A Gesture
By Carolyn Reading Hammer
Forward by Dr. Paul Evans Holbrook
Introduction by Dr. Thomas Wolf
Tuscaloosa, Alabama: Marcona Press, 2021. Edition of 40.
6.5 x 10”; 25 pages. Double pamphlet. Numbered.
Colophon: "Digitally set in Emerson and printed from Boxcar photopolymer plates on a Vandercook No. 4 proof press. The title page is handset in American Uncial and printed on a Schniedewend Reliance hand press. Text is printed on Hahnemuhle Biblio and Mohawk Curious Translucents Book, cover paper is St Armand Canal. Designed, printed, and bound by Virginia C. McClure."
Marcona Press: “A printed copy of speech given by Carolyn Hammer in 1976 at the Symposium on the Book Arts at the University of Alabama, organized by Dr. James Ramer, Dean of the Graduate School for Library Service, and Dr. Raymond McLain, Dean of International Programs and Vice President of Academic Affairs. This is the first time this speech has been printed, and this edition includes an Introduction by Dr. Thomas Wolf of Cambridge, MA, and a Foreward by Dr. Paul Holbrook, Director of the King Library Press at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Ky. Original research at the University of Alabama Hoole Special Collections provided additional historical context for this speech, which, with and the accompanying remarks, add information and insight to the understanding of this important librarian and printer.”
Virginia McClure, Preface: “Pay attention to the recurring theme of the gesture of holding a book in one’s hand, Carolyn Hammer opens and closes her talk with a reference to a line from Hugo von Hofmannsthal, ‘I almost regard as the characteristic gesture of our time man with a book in his hand, even as the kneeling man with folded hands was the gesture of another age.’ While she changes ‘our time’ to ‘human beings,’ this isn’t a mistake, Ms. Hanner is touching on the deeper meaning of this quote. Human beings, i.e., humanity, can change their bearing, their purpose, through ready access to printed books. Carolyn Hammer also makes the distinction that, while the printer’s work empowers human beings, the printer’s craft enlightens humanity.”
$175 |
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