Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus

West Hatfield: Printed by Harold McGrath at Pennyroyal, 1983. MOSER, Barry; PENNYROYAL PRESS. Advanced Proof Deluxe Edition of Moser's Frankenstein with Original Drawing

MOSER, Barry, [illustrator]. PENNYROYAL PRESS. SHELLEY, Mary Wollstonecraft. Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus. West Hatfield: Printed by Harold McGrath at Pennyroyal, 1983.

Full Description:

[MOSER, Barry, illustrator]. [PENNYROYAL PRESS]. SHELLEY, Mary Wollstonecraft. 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 (truncated) St. Clair. West Hatfield [Massachusetts]: Printed by Harold McGrath at Pennyroyal, 1983.

Advanced proof deluxe edition, being number "AP 1/5." The whole edition limited to 350 numbered copies, signed by the artist. Within this, the deluxe edition is one of fifty copies with on original signed drawing. Our AP copy contains an additional suite of 52 wood engravings, each signed in pencil by the artist, an original pencil sketch by Moser of "Victor Frankenstein" (which appears on page 37 of the book) on tracing paper, and an additional 20 engravings, (proof plates in varying states of color) on slightly thicker, smaller format paper, (240 x 310-320 mm), each signed by Moser and labeled "WP' (Working Proof?). Folio (13 1/2 x 9 15/16 inches; 341 x 253 mm.). xvi, 282, [2, blank], [1, colophon], [3, blank] pp. Fifty-two wood-engravings by Barry Moser printed in several colors. Printed in Poliphilus and Blado with Wilhelm Klingsporschrift on Pulegium archival paper manufactured by the Strathmore Paper Company, Woronoco, Massachusetts.

Bound by Samuel Ellenport at the Harcourt Bindery, Boston, in publisher’s quarter tan morocco over maroon cloth boards. Spine ruled in gilt and blind (the blind rules extending onto the covers) in compartments with burgundy morocco gilt lettering label (the calligraphic lettering on the spine label by Yvette Rutledge). Top edge gilt. A fine copy. The additional suite of wood engravings laid into a maroon cloth portfolio. Housed together in the publisher’s black cloth slipcase.

“I’m often asked, which of my books is my favorite and I usually respond with the single word Frankenstein. It is my favorite because it, more than the others, exemplifies what I hold to be ideal: it holds together as a unit, a coherent whole with type, text, and images well-balanced and well paced. Frankenstein marks the first instance of the use of multiple color block prints in a Pennyroyal book as well as the first collaboration with Joyce Carol Oates, who will do the introductions to Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and Dracula in time to come” (Pennyroyal).

Pennyroyal 29.

HBS 69322.

$10,000. (Inventory #: 69322)