Booksby Press

Today we're taking a look at Lime Rock Press.

Lime Rock was the private press of Whitney North Seymour, Jr. of Salisbury, CT. Between 1979 and 1985 this press produced 23 miniature books, six of which reside at Booksby. While Seymour does the publishing and, in four cases, writing of the books, he is joined by his wife and two daughters who contribute artwork and binding skills, making this a family enterprise.

The books range from the typical codex bound in paper, leather or cloth to some more fantastical books, including one bound in a wine cork and another housed in a corkscrew handle. I'll mention a few of the books a Booksby now.

"Holiday Memory" by Dylan Thomas was the first miniature book from this press. Published in 1979, it measures 2½"×2⅛" and is bound in gilt tan cloth. It contains 30 pages letterpress printed in two colors. Of 125 copies, mine is #60.

"Where Tigers Roar in Silence" by Lynn Hess is a poem riddle book published in 1980, in an edition of 999. Bound in embossed paper covers and housed in a red cloth drop-back box, it contains 32 fold out pages of riddles illustrated by wife Catryna Ten Eyck. It measures 2¹³/¹⁶"×2¹¹/¹⁶".

"Thoughts from the Cork" was compiled by Seymour and published in 1981. This is one of the more quirky books from this press, being bound in a split wine cork. The book measures 1¾"×⅞" and comes in a plastic case. The 28 pages contain quotes about wine from various famous persons.

"A Little Bit of History About Very Small Books" is a single sheet broadside folded to 8 pages and a full sheet catalog of Lime Rock Press books then in print. Folded it measures "2¾"×2½". Open it measures 10"×5½".

Next time we'll take a look at the Limited Editions Club.

Well, I wasn't sure till this week if my workshop would happen or not but we got the required number of registrants so I was scrambling all week to finish preparations. Here then is the bindery at the Morga Conservatory set up and ready to go! I'll let you know how I did tonight.

The Morgan Conservatory

Today we'll take a look at Light of Day.

Bradbury offers no information on this publisher but the colophon does have all the pertinent information as to who and where.

The book is "The Rose," a short story by John Jeter, published by Dea Sasso of Northampton, Massachusetts in 1993. It measures 2"×1½" and has 32 pages. It is bound in marbled paper boards and cloth spine with printed paper label. Letterpress is by Swamp Press. There is an embossed rose and one hand colored illustration by Jane Rini. Mine is copy 110 of 350 and has a slipcase. The little slip of paper inserted in the front is a tag from Tokyo's Lilliput Oval Saloon, the only miniature book store in the world that closed in 2005.

Next time we'll take a look at the Lilliputter Press.