Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus

West Hatfield: Pennyroyal, 1983. Limited Edition. Leather bound. Fine. The deluxe limited edition of Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley, with illustrations by Barry Moser. This unique set was published by The Pennyroyal Press, with 52 loose prints of his woodcuts, each individually signed by the ill. Folio, xvi, 282pp, [12]. Quarter brown calf, red cloth boards. Five raised bands, title in gilt over red morocco label on the spine. Top edge gilt, clean black endpapers. A fine copy. Complete with 52 woodcut illustrations by Barry Moser. One of 350 copies, this one numbered 225. Signed by Moser on colophon. Includes a complete set of (truncated) 52 loose plates in a matching cloth chemise. 51 of 52 signed in pencil by Moser, with a small loss to top corner of Plate 4, titled "Arctic Landscape 2;" all others fine. Both pieces are housed in the matching red cloth slipcase. Includes original paper wrapping, with matching limitation number "225" written on side. A beautiful work from The Pennyroyal Press. Barry Moser (b. 1940), acclaimed illustrator and printmaker, is the visionary behind the Pennyroyal Press: a significant imprint in the landscape of fine press publishing. Established in 1969, Pennyroyal Press became an outlet for Moser's distinctive craftsmanship, blending artistry and literature by producing limited edition books, notable for their exquisite quality and artistic illustrations. The press garnered widespread acclaim for editions such as "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" and the monumental “Pennyroyal Caxton Bible,” distinguished as the first bible illustrated by a single artist since Gustave Doré's version in the 19th century. Frankenstein was reportedly Moser's favorite novel.

Full Title: Frankenstein; or, the Modern Prometheus. The 1818 Text in Three Volumes Illustrated by Barry Moser and With Essays by Ruth Mortimer, Emily Sunstein, Joyce Carol Oates, and William St. Clair. Printed by Harold McGrath at Pennyroyal. (Inventory #: 16793)