The Fisherman and His Soul by Oscar Wilde – GRABHORN PRESS 1939
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The Fisherman and His Soul by Oscar Wilde – GRABHORN PRESS 1939
A PICTORIAL REVIEW
Limited edition of 200 copies
Ragged page edges.
Plain white endpapers.
Quarter bound in brown cloth over marbled boards.
Illustrations and initials by Mallette Dean.
Glassine dustjacket.
28x20.7cm.
66 pages
US$139
“To get what we want is often the greatest curse of all. The fisherman here accidentally catches a mermaid in his net. He falls in love with the Mermaid and tells her that he wants to marry her. She tells him that he can only marry her if he sends away his soul. From a Witch, the Fisherman learns how to send his soul away. The Soul makes several attempts to persuade the Fisherman to take him back, eventually convincing him to do so with the tale of a beautiful dancer who lives nearby. Too late does the Fisherman discover that the soul which he sent out into the world without a heart has become evil. So be careful what you set your heart on. This story was first published in 1896 in the book A House of Pomegranates.” From Goodreads.
My copy has an interesting bookplate on the inside cover – that of Harold Berliner.
Harold Berliner might be best-known for writing the text of the Miranda warning in the late 1960s, words that are now recited nationwide to those arrested to inform them of their rights. Berliner’s love of justice combined with his love of printing in his writing of the famous Miranda warning. What he did was put together the wording in a simple form and printed it on little cards that he then distributed to law enforcement officers all over the country so they could just read it. Later on, they knew it by heart.
Locally, he is remembered for serving as the Nevada County district attorney for 16 years and for his work on land-use issues. In his final days, Berliner expressed great satisfaction with his legal work in environmental and consumer protection. Berliner said the work he did on land-use issues was one of his most important contributions to Nevada County. When subdivisions were built without roads and sewer systems, Berliner took the developers to court.
But his “big love,” said friends and family, was creating fine art books. The well-known lawyer also printed fine art posters and cards and made his own fonts at Harold Berliner’s Typefoundry, the largest privately owned hot-metal casting foundry in the world. He was most proud of his fine press books – and he was world-famous for that work.
Berliner started his first print shop in his parents’ basement in San Francisco in 1939. His plan was to print books, but when he and his wife started a family, he found the printing business was not enough to support all eight of their children. Berliner started a private law practice and worked with Bill Weatherall before devoting his full attention to the growing county’s District Attorney’s office.
A daughter, Judith, has carried on with the letterpress tradition, creating high-end announcements with her Full Circle Press – in her father’s printshop next to the family home.
Berliner died aged 86 in 2010.
An index of the other illustrated reviews in the this series can be viewed here.
A PICTORIAL REVIEW
Limited edition of 200 copies
Ragged page edges.
Plain white endpapers.
Quarter bound in brown cloth over marbled boards.
Illustrations and initials by Mallette Dean.
Glassine dustjacket.
28x20.7cm.
66 pages
US$139
“To get what we want is often the greatest curse of all. The fisherman here accidentally catches a mermaid in his net. He falls in love with the Mermaid and tells her that he wants to marry her. She tells him that he can only marry her if he sends away his soul. From a Witch, the Fisherman learns how to send his soul away. The Soul makes several attempts to persuade the Fisherman to take him back, eventually convincing him to do so with the tale of a beautiful dancer who lives nearby. Too late does the Fisherman discover that the soul which he sent out into the world without a heart has become evil. So be careful what you set your heart on. This story was first published in 1896 in the book A House of Pomegranates.” From Goodreads.
My copy has an interesting bookplate on the inside cover – that of Harold Berliner.
Harold Berliner might be best-known for writing the text of the Miranda warning in the late 1960s, words that are now recited nationwide to those arrested to inform them of their rights. Berliner’s love of justice combined with his love of printing in his writing of the famous Miranda warning. What he did was put together the wording in a simple form and printed it on little cards that he then distributed to law enforcement officers all over the country so they could just read it. Later on, they knew it by heart.
Locally, he is remembered for serving as the Nevada County district attorney for 16 years and for his work on land-use issues. In his final days, Berliner expressed great satisfaction with his legal work in environmental and consumer protection. Berliner said the work he did on land-use issues was one of his most important contributions to Nevada County. When subdivisions were built without roads and sewer systems, Berliner took the developers to court.
But his “big love,” said friends and family, was creating fine art books. The well-known lawyer also printed fine art posters and cards and made his own fonts at Harold Berliner’s Typefoundry, the largest privately owned hot-metal casting foundry in the world. He was most proud of his fine press books – and he was world-famous for that work.
Berliner started his first print shop in his parents’ basement in San Francisco in 1939. His plan was to print books, but when he and his wife started a family, he found the printing business was not enough to support all eight of their children. Berliner started a private law practice and worked with Bill Weatherall before devoting his full attention to the growing county’s District Attorney’s office.
A daughter, Judith, has carried on with the letterpress tradition, creating high-end announcements with her Full Circle Press – in her father’s printshop next to the family home.
Berliner died aged 86 in 2010.
An index of the other illustrated reviews in the this series can be viewed here.
3ultrarightist
Very nice, and the bookplate is quite apropos.
4jveezer
Wow! Didn't know this existed. Looks amazing!
I need to get a Grabhorn book on my blog at some point. I have Two Years Before the Mast and Sonnets from Altan as possible candidates. Hmmm...a long read or a short read...
I need to get a Grabhorn book on my blog at some point. I have Two Years Before the Mast and Sonnets from Altan as possible candidates. Hmmm...a long read or a short read...
5LBShoreBook
This is fantastic - thanks for sharing.
6Glacierman
Interesting. I just picked up one of Mr. Berliner's books. Very well printed on nice paper, but not illustrated. Will post details later. Not home at the moment.
7laotzu225
>4 jveezer: I actually have a copy of Sonnets from Antan. I'd like to read your thoughts on it.
