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Choice Items From the Lasqueti Island Mint

Setting Sail on Silver Clouds: Gulf Islanders Mint Their Own Money

Lasqueti Island, located centrally within the Strait of Georgia, between Vancouver Island and the mainland is perhaps an unlikely location for a mint. Not something that bothered Tolling Jennings and goldsmith Ray Lipovsky. Using 19th Centery technology, the partners have been creating bullion coins since 1997. Working by hand, a limited number of BU (Brilliant Uncirculated), and limited edition double struck Proof coins,are produced each day. 

The first coins, displaying the image of Allen and Sharie Farrell's legendary sailing junk, China Cloud were minted in July, 1997. That first run of 222 coins was sold out in five weeks. Years later, they have surpassed their twenty fourth issue, each with it's own design, quality, and material characteristics. 

While everyone else is trying to make big money fast, these two are making good money, gracefully.

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Perfect Picks from

JAN KELLETT'S HAND CRAFTED MINIATURE BOOKS

Jan Kellett's miniture books are published in small editions (mostly less than 50), and are known for their original content, their fine bindings, & hand colored illustrations. The aim is to design and make books that are interesting and pleasing to view and handle, appealing to the eye and mind in equal measure, with every aspect of the book being given due consideration.

Title

Eight Limited Edition Titles are currently available in print, and in very limited quantities. Please allow four to six weeks for delivery, as books are hand made to order. Books will be out of print immediately upon reaching publishing limits, without exception.

Distinguished book Award 1996, Miniature Book Society

Limited Edition of 50 copies, signed & numbered.  (Click thumbnail for larger image)

Numerous springs of pure water made the town famous in later years, and today the water is bottled and sent all over the world.  It is said to be the Queen’s favorite.  The Water Cure brought visitors flocking to the town in Victorian times, including Charles Darwin and the young Princess Victoria herself. Sir Edward Elgar, the noted composer, drew inspiration from the Malvern Hills and it has been home to many artists, writers and musicians over the years. It has been a center for scientific discoveries and developments including radar, since the establishment of a government defense research department there during the war.

Hand bound in rich red leather, in a style dating from Medieval times, the book is sewn on linen cords laced into the covers.  Front and back covers are hand gilt with a circular design, and the spine has gilt cords, blind tooled panels and gilt title label.  Endpapers are  hand-marbled, matching the slip case. Hand colored illustrations drawn especially for the book include St. Anne’s Well, the Holy Well, a frontispiece and tailpiece, the Priory Gateway and ornate wrought iron metalwork on Great Malvern Railway Station, as well as a double page map of the Hills.

Size:  2 7/8” x 2 1/2'” approx, inclusive of slipcase, 104 pages, six hand colored illustrations, two black & white and double page map. Price US $375.00 Item #2000

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Old London Bridge

Distinguished Book Award 2003, Miniature Book Society

Limited Edition of 35 copies signed and numbered. (Click thumbnail for larger image)

At least 3500 years ago, a wooden bridge was built across the River Thames at the crossing-point now known as London, establishing trading routes that are still traveled today.

In 1176, King Henry II instructed Peter de Colechurch to start building a permanent London Bridge in stone.  A vast and costly undertaking for those times, it took 33 years to complete, and was to stand for more that six centuries.  This huge achievement is detailed in “Old London Bridge”, from its inception to the eventual demolition of the Bridge in 1831.

An inhabited Bridge was not unique in the twelfth century, but Old London Bridge was the longest of such bridges, and must have been a spectacular sight.  The shops sold luxury goods such as jewelry and books.  The houses were built, decorated and furnished to the highest standards of the day and leased to wealthy and important people who wanted to live in a fashionable neighborhood.

Hand marbled paper for the endpapers was created by Ann Muir in a special version of the 18^th Century pattern ‘Stormont’, with orange and yellow veins swirled through a gray veined background representing the turbulent River Thames. The book is letterpress printed from photopolymer plates.

Illustrations include a double page map of Southwark  as it was in the 16^th Century, the Drawbridge and Great Stone Gates, the Chapel and a typical shop & dwelling house, all hand colored with water colors.

“Old London Bridge” measures 3” x 2⁵/₈”, 64 pp. Price US $390.00 Item #2001  

Originally scheduled to be a Limited Edition of 200 copies, signed and numbered, the Quantity has been reduced to a Limited Edition of 100 copies.  (Click thumbnail for larger image)

The story of how it came about and managed to survive two World Wars, umpteen recessions and the rigors of modern red tape is contained in this book.  The story was told to me by Peter Morgan, son of the founder.

The five hand-colored illustrations show the original garage, the Pickersleigh Road works and other places closely connected with the family.  There are also six black and white illustrations showing various models of cars in production throughout the 20^th century , taken from advertisements of the day (by kind permission of the Morgan Motor Company).

The frontispiece for each book is a Royal Mail postage stamp of a Morgan car from the Classic Car Series, October 1996. The foreword was written by Peter Morgan and some of the books are signed by him.

The Club Edition is sewn and bound entirely by hand, in midnight blue leather inlaid on front and back covers with green leather ‘Morgan Wings’.  The title is in gold on a green leather label, with hand gilt bands.  The endpapers are of hand marbled paper, and the same paper covers the slipcase.  Blue and gold colored silk sewn end bands finish the binding in traditional style.

Note. Sadly, Peter Morgan passed away in October 2003

The book has 175 pages and measures approximately 2⁵/₈ “ x 2⁷/₈”, in a slipcase. It was printed offset on Retreeve 90gsm paper. Price US $375.00 Item #2002

Distinguished Book Award 1999, Miniature Book Society

Limited edition of 49 copies, signed and numbered. (Click thumbnail for larger image)

The book is bound by hand in a brilliant kingfisher blue calf leather, decorated with a hand gilt design of flowers and leaves.  Each impression is made individually with heated brass engraved hand tools.

A gilded sterling silver clasp in the form of a leaf fastens the covers of the book.  This has been especially designed and made by the Worcestershire jeweler Judith Price.

A soft black suede case is attached to the clasp and protects the book, which measures approximately 3” x 2³/₄” (inclusive of case).

Some of the most beautiful phrases in the English Language were written by William Shakespeare.  Then, Herbal Medicine reigned supreme and the properties of plants were comprehensively documented in books called Herbals.  Shakespeare was familiar with these and his allusions to plants and flowers carried meanings beyond the obvious.

Herbals were illustrated to enable the reader to identify accurately the plants to be used medicinally.  The illustrations in early Herbals were printed from woodcuts; hard wooden blocks with the image cut into the surface.  Jan has used copies of these to illustrate the quotations, marrying the best of each.

The book is letterpress printed  from blocks onto hand made paper produced by Griffen Mill.  The paper is made from linen, cotton and manila fibers in a similar manner to the process used in Shakespeare’s day.  The quality of the paper, its strength and durability are unmistakable.

The illustrations are hand colored individually using watercolors, as they were in early Herbals.  The seven quotations and seven illustrations fold up concertina style into the book.   Price US $340.00 Item #2003

Limited edition of 49 copies, signed and numbered. (Click thumbnail for larger image) 

The quince was anciently dedicated to Venus, the goddess of love. It would have been known that it was a love token and that quince pies were served at wedding feasts.

Falstaff called for eryngoes to aid his love tryst, in the "Merry Wives of Windsor". The long, sweet-tasting candied roots were thought to have aphrodisiac properties and were taken medicinally.  

"Shakespeare’s Harvest" was designed as a companion volume to "Shakespeare’s Flowers" and develops the theme of ‘books as precious objects’, to be treasured and enjoyed, as were Books of Hours in Medieval times. It can be worn around the neck, suspended in its case, from the silky neck cord.

Entirely hand made, the book is bound in amber colored calf leather, using traditional bookbinding skills. Each element has been carefully designed and chosen to make the book appealing to the mind and delightful to the eye.  Copies of early herbal woodcuts have been used to complement Shakespeare’s evocative quotations and are hand colored with watercolors, in traditional 16^th century style. The paper was made by hand at Griffen Mill in Somerset, England, using cotton and hemp fibers, and ancient techniques.

The gilded sterling silver clasp is in the form of an alpine strawberry, echoing the hand gilt design of strawberry flowers and leaves, which decorates front and back covers. The clasp was designed and made for this book by Judith Price.  

To hand gild, brass engraved hand tools are heated and impressed on the leather. In this case, the tools were not available ‘off the shelf’ so Jan had to design them and have them cut to her specification. Each flower, stalk, and leaflet is a separate impression.

Letterpress printed from metal blocks, the book measures approximately 2³/₄" x 2³/₄" inclusive of case. There are seven quotations and seven illustrations, and the book is contained in a black ‘snake-print’ leather case, with silver-gilt chain and clasp, and neck cord. Price US $340.00 Item #2004

Limited edition of 49 copies, signed and numbered. (Click thumbnail for larger image) 

Distinguished Book Award 2000, Miniature Book Society Inc.

The Globe Theatre was the subject of a special edition of Royal Mail postage stamps issued in 1995. There are two versions, one before the fire in 1599 and the other in 1614 after it had been rebuilt. One of these stamps forms the frontispiece for each book.

The book is bound in honey coloured calf leather, hand dyed by Dennis Kellett. The cover is lined with hand made paper, and is blind-tooled and fastened with a strap and a brass buckle made especially for this edition by Lyn Antley. The 16^th century-style binding, sewn on blocks and laced into the cover with vellum strips was inspired by cartularies in the archives of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. The ancient technique is functional as well as decorative.

The illustrations were screen-printed from pen and ink drawings by the author onto Griffen Mill hand made paper and hand coloured with watercolors. The four double page spreads are mounted on guards, so they can be seen without a sewing thread in the center of the pages. 

Illustrations include Shakespeare’s Birthplace; Anne Hathaway’s Cottage; Mary Arden’s House; a map of Stratford upon Avon adapted from one drawn in the 18^th Century, and the bust of Shakespeare as shown on his tomb. There are also two black and white illustrations.

Printed offset on 90 gsm Zerkall mould made paper, the book measures approximately 2³/₄" x 2¹³/₁₆", and has 80 pp. Price US  $390.00 Item #2005

Limited edition of 49 copies, signed and numbered. (Click thumbnail for larger image) 

She was a Fortune Teller, the ‘fortunes’ being hidden inside the folds of the paper strips making up the skirt.  I have recreated the Fortune Teller in book form, so that we can enjoy once again this traditional entertainment.  

Muted shades of Ingres paper make up the pages, which are folded so that the book fans out.  Each coloured page is printed with a heart, diamond, spade or club symbol, and by choosing a colour and a suit, the player selects his or her ‘fortune’. The book covers are of paste paper, hand painted by Claire Maziarczyk, in shades of green, pink, blue, gold and silver, to tone with the pages. The spine is of green leather, with the title blocked in gold lettering.

The endpapers are hand printed with gold stars to match the cover of the box, especially made to hold the fan-shaped book.  On the lid of the box is a colour print showing symbols for the planets and the zodiacal signs, from the 1677 edition of the alchemical ‘Aureus Tractus’, by Agrippa von Nettesheim.

NOTE WELL  ‘The Fortune Teller’ is intended purely as entertainment and the maker accepts no responsibility for any fortune or misfortune that may arise subsequent to its use.  Price US $180.00 Item #2006

Limited edition of 49 copies, signed and numbered. (Click thumbnail for larger image) 

Originally built as a power-base by William the Conqueror, it has been used by monarchs down the centuries, each adapting the Tower to his or her own particular needs.  This A to Z selection shows the variety and scope of the Tower’s history, some parts being well known, others less so.  

I devised the binding to reflect aspects of the Tower’s use and history. The pages are secured with 9ct. gold rings, echoing the regal nature of the Tower as well as its use as a prison for high-ranking subjects. The rings are laced into the covers with strips of vellum, a durable material in use for centuries.  

The cover is of English calf leather dyed a russet colour and blind tooled in a medieval style with a gilt rose.  The rose has been part of Royal English coats of arms, ever since they came into use.  The covers fasten with a leather loop and knot.  

The text is printed in gold and black on cream Zerkall paper, in a typeface called Dauphin, which has similarities to early Norman French script.

There are nine hand-coloured illustrations, and one printed in gold, showing aspects of the Tower buildings, incidents and occupants. Letter "K" folds out to show a list of Kings and Queens and the dates of their reigns.  There is a foldout plan of the Tower and a copy of an early print showing Lady Jane Grey about to be beheaded on the scaffold.  The fate of Gruffud, who fell to his death trying to escape, is shown in the frontispiece and the second elephant to appear in England takes up the rear under "Z" for Zoo.

A black and gold printed slipcase protects the book which measures 2³/₄” x 2⁷/₈”.  There are 70 pages. Price US  $370.00 Item #2007

Limited edition of 40 copies, signed and numbered. (Click thumbnail for larger image) 

The original illustrations were drawn in pen & ink, printed from plates and individually hand-coloured with watercolours.  The animals play their traditional roles, and the humans play theirs, seen against the age-old backdrop of an agricultural community.

The design of the book allows a double page for each object or character, using diminishing text sizes to accommodate the verse as it grows longer.  Constructing the book with guards, so that each double page stands away from the spine when open, allows the pictures to be easily seen, yet maintains a neat book shape when closed.

Printed on Magnani mould-made paper, this book is the first to come off the old hand-operated platen press, purchased by De Walden Press earlier this year.  Combining modern technology and traditional methods, polymer plates were made of the artwork and text, making it possible to letterpress print both together.  Interestingly, this mimics the old method of hand-engraving metal plates with both text and illustrations, as can be seen in some of the early 19th century versions of this rhyme.

The book is hand-bound in sage green goat leather, which has a beautiful two-toned grain.  The title is gold blocked on the front cover, and a separate booklet of notes and observations on this ancient rhyme accompanies the book.  Book and booklet are housed in a slipcase, covered with a Japanese Chiyogami paper made from mulberry fibre.

Book:  12 double pages of hand-coloured illustrations and text plus colophon.  Size: 2³/₈"h x 2⁷/₈"w.    Booklet:  18 pages including bibliography.  Size:  2"h x 2³/₄"w.  Book & Booklet sold together with slipcase. Price US  $395.00 Item #2008

Retirement Clock

A Great gift for a special someone's retirement. Also very handy for those taking medication on a daily basis in conjunction with their seven day or alternating medication schedule. 

Makes a great Birthday Gift for anyone over the age of twenty-nine.

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