What are fine press and artists’ books?

The debate continues on this seemingly simple question. Artists’ books come in all shapes and sizes and may employ a wide variety of media and techniques including painting, photography, printmaking, paper making, mixed media, and typography. They may contain poems, stories, or no words at all. Many artists’ books push the boundaries of what is considered a book.

An artist’s book is itself is a work of art. The artist has control of all aspects of the book: choices about page layout, typography and binding are made by the artist, rather than by an editor or publisher. Typically artists’ books are one of a kind or published in small numbers.

More information on artists’ books is available at

• College Book Art Association
• Fine Press Book Association
• Book Arts Guild

Our Books

The Michael J. Spinelli, Jr. Center for University Archives and Special Collections houses a growing collection of limited edition fine press and artists’ books representing a variety of techniques and processes, including handmade papers, woodcut and linoleum prints, hand sewn bindings, original art and hand lettered text. Many books are individually numbered and signed. David A. Beronä, Dean of Library and Academic Support Services, established this collection in 2006 to promote an interest in Artists’ Books across the curriculum.

To view PSU’s collection of fine press and artists’ books schedule an appointment or contact Alissa Helms (amhelms@plymouth.edu). To the right is a list of books available in special collections. Hyperlinks on authors’ or publishers’ names will take you to their home pages.

 

Abracadabra by Werner Pfeiffer
Pear Whistle Press

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The Bear Went Over the Mountain by Dinh Viet Luc & Charles Jones
LaNana Creek Press

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Bird, String, Cricket by Rebecca Goodale

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The Book of Craving by Janet Rodney
Grey Spider Press

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Brownfields by Laura Nash
Ugly Duckling Presse

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Calling Down the Birds by C. Christopher Stern
Grey Spider Press

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The Candide Portfolio text by Voltaire, images by William Arscott
LaNana Creek Press

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Colored People by Blake J. Nolan
C & C Press

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Cry Uncle by Frances Jetter

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Dearly Beloved story by F. Scott Fitzgerald, graphics by Byron Burford
Windhover Press of the University of Iowa

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Eight Clones by Rebecca Goodale

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Excerpts From a Family Medical Dictionary by Rebecca Brown, designed, printed, and handbound by Jules R. Faye & C. Christopher Stern
Grey Spider Press

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Fallen Angels wood and linoleum cuts by twenty artists accompanied by a tale as told to Jules R. Faye
Street of Crocodiles

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Falling Leaves by Jill Timm
Mystical Places Press

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Figures Made Visible in the Sadness of Time by Peter Everwine, etchings by Bill Kelly
Brighton Press

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Flying Flags by Jill Timm
Mystical Places Press

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Forest Song by Art Hazelwood
Epigone Press
For more information, read Art Hazelwood: A Graphic Witness of America by David Berona

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The House the Poet Built poem by W. D. Snodgrass, etchings by DeLoss McGraw, Brighton Press

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How We Lost the Mermaid’s Song original text and images by Frances Watson, cover and binding by Jace Graf
Cloverleaf Studio

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In the Face of it by Gary Young
C & C Press

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Into Iraq by Art Hazelwood
Epigone Press

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Meadow Rock by Jill Timm
Mystical Places Press

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The Mechanical Dreamer by Jules R. Faye
Street of Crocodiles

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The Mysterious Death of Tom Thomson by George A Walker

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Objects Stein by Barbara Mauriello, Barbara Henry
Granden Press

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Ocean Dunes photography by Jill Timm
Mystical Places Press

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On the Avenue of Eternal Peace by Liz Ahl
Lyra Press

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The Only Time We Have by Samuel Green
Grey Spider Press

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2010 Original Print Calendar by Washington Area Printmakers

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An Outline of Reparation by Bill Kelly, woodcuts by James Renner
Brighton Press

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Over Horizon by David Kim

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Pictorial Websters by John Carrera
Quercus Press
Watch the video of the Making of Pictorial Websters

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Promenade by Art Hazelwood
Epigone Press

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Schiffsweiß by Marie Luise Kaschnitz, hand painted lithographs by Michele Burgess
Brighton Press

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Second Fruit by Johanne Renbeck

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The Smallest Violin in the World  by John M. Carrera
Quercus Press

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States of Grace: A Keening by Jody Aliesan
Grey Spider Press

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Summer Grape by Rebecca Goodale

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A Tale of Life by Peter R. Thomas, illustrated by Donna Thomas
The Good Book Press

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Talking With Raven by Clifford Burke
Grey Spider Press

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The Train Game written by Heidi Hanson, photographs by Jill Timm
Mystical Places Press

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Tribute is a visual tribute to David Berona's passionate research and support of artists based on his text, "Imagining Lynd Ward"

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The Twenty One Gun Salute by David Lee
Grey Spider Press

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Two Luso Lyrics by Tom Braga, illustrated by Diane Fine
Moonkosh Press and Mario Laplante

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Two or Three Friends by Rebecca Goodale

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Two Rivers Printmaking Studio, White River Junction, Vermont : Portfolio of Prints 

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Venus and Adonis Shakespeare, wood-engraved illustrations by Andy English
Barbarian Press

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We’re Making Progress by Art Hazelwood

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Winter Elk by Jill Timm
Mystical Places Press

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Winter White by Jill Timm
Mystical Places Press

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The Wolf’s Carol written and illustrated with engravings by Nancy Ruth Jackson
Barbarian Press

Abracadabra

 

Calling Down the Birds

 

Second Fruit

 

The Mechanical Dreamer

 

Lists

 

Objects Stein

 

Promenade

 

The Wolf's Carol

 

How We Lost the Mermaid's Song

 

An Outline of Reparation