Swifts and Martins of Selborne, 2020
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Swifts and Martins of Selborne open to the title page
Swifts and Martins of Selborne open to Building the Nest pull out
Specifications - Edition of 15
Covers - Linen Washi paper over board, goatskin spine and corners.
Cover Illustration - Original image etched, engraved and hand-colored
with watercolors and inks.
Book - Twinrocker handmade paper, twelve leaves. Ten illustrations
were made following the process used by John James Audubon for
The Birds of America, published 1827. Original images were drawn and
painted with watercolors, then etched, engraved and hand-colored
with watercolors and inks.
Text from The Natural History of Selborne by Gilbert White, published
1789. Hand-set in Janson Roman, Janson Italic and Goudy Italic.
Letterpress printed.
Thomas Parker Williams - Concept, design, illustrations, printing, binding
Mary Agnes Williams - Concept, design, typesetting, printing
Guild of Bookworkers Traveling Exhibition - "Wildlife"
Swifts and Martins of Selborne will be part of the traveling exhibition, visiting six venues
from June 2021 to September 2022.
Collections
Permanent collections -
The Gilbert White Museum Selborne, UK
Free Library of Philadelphia Rare Book Department
Copies are in private collections
Inspired by two men who differed widely in their approaches to documenting the identifying features and behaviors of birds, this book brings together the words of Gilbert White, who studied birds in his home village, and the artistic process of John James Audubon, who traveled extensively to document all American birds. We chose to depict two birds who also differ widely: Martins who are serious nest builders, and Swifts who are on the wing most of their lives. The book features letterpress-printed hand-set text, original images that were drawn and painted with watercolors, then etched, engraved and finally hand-colored.
Book pages
