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The Unknown Masterpiece
by Honore de Balzac
. . .This rarity is a limited edition book/portfolio with text translated by Charles Hobson and published by Pacific Editions.
. . .The book/folio incorporates etchings, engravings and lithographs by Larry Thomas illustrating the text. The 18” X 13” (closed) book/folio was produced in an edition of thirty-five copies plus five proof copies and represents a major work of collaboration, design, and interpretation reflecting the romantic qualities inherent in the written text. |
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. . .The text volume and the separate suite of six etchings are contained in a wrap around chemise tied with a burgundy ribbon. A facsimile of Balzac’s handwriting covers the inside flaps of the chemise which is bound, along with the text volume, in “Ingres” paper from the Lana Mill in France. The text is printed letterpress on Rives Heavyweight, a French mould made paper, in 18-point Garamond Bold.
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. . .Larry Thomas worked from charcoal drawings done from the model to create six soft-ground etchings, each of which has been overprinted with a second copper plate containing a hand engraved image. The etching/engravings are “bleed printed”, meaning that the copper plates are larger than the sheet of paper they are printed on so that the image covers the entire sheet. They each measure 18 X 25 inches when opened full. The text volume, which is bound with a black leather spine, contains six photolithographs of the original charcoal drawings that inspired the etchings. They are printed on vellum-like paper that is transparent and, as a consequence, the text interplays visually through the image. |
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The limited edition was translated and designed by Charles Hobson and consists of two parts, a bound letterpress volume containing Balzac's novel and a portfolio of the six etching/engravings accompanied by key fragments of the text from the novel. Portions of the original charcoal drawings have been reproduced by photo-lithography at Magnolia Editions in Oakland, California on transparent sheets and bound into the text volume which was printed letterpress at M & H Type, San Francisco using 18 point Garamond Bold on Rives Heavyweight, a French mould-made paper. Kay Bradner assisted with the proofing of the prints and supervised their editioning. The paper for the binding is Ingres from the Lana Mill in France. Priscilla Spitler at BookLab, Inc. in Austin, Texas bound the edition.
Translated © Copyright Charles Hobson, 1993.
Images © Copyright Larry Thomas, 1993
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