Of A Feather; Avian Collective Nouns & Terms of Assembly, Group Names & Associated Terms

[Newtown, Powys]: Gwasg Gregynog, 2008. Limited Edition. Hardcover. Fine. See-Paynton, Colin. One of 135 standard edition copies, folio size, 171 pp., with correspondence from the Press. Colin See-Paynton (b. 1946) spent more than four years extensively researching and writing the text, and creating the sixty-one new wood engravings for this illustrated lexicon of avian collective nouns: an unprecedented achievement. "The work of Colin See-Paynton is truly remarkable in its detail and beauty. His Wood Engravings, held in many major collections, display a love and understanding of nature as well as the skill of a master engraver" (n.b., quote from the web site of the artist). The entire work written, compiled, designed and illustrated by See-Paynton

"In a critical essay David Alston, Arts Director of the Arts Council Wales, wrote: 'not since Thomas Bewick, who both wrote and engraved in the late eighteenth century, have both literary and pictorial aspects been found conjoined in the one talent as here in this work'. That the observation and study of the natural world has been a lifelong interest is evident both from the engravings and the enthusiasm revealed in the text. From 'Abandonment of Cuckoos' to 'Zephyr of Long-Tailed Titmice' it enriches our knowledge of avian nomenclature far beyond the well-known 'Gaggle of Geese' - though that, too, is included. Colin See-Paynton has researched the origin of the nouns drawing from sources as far back as the fifteenth-century, and gives some detailed insight into the species under discussion (n. b., from web site of the Press).

___DESCRIPTION: Quarter bound in navy blue leather, the title blind-debossed on the spine with two gilt decorations on either side, the boards covered with navy blue cloth, the front board with a blocked design mounted within a debossed area, fore- and bottom edges rough-cut, moss green laid paper endpapers, half-title with green lettering and a small engraving of a single feather, frontis engraving depicting multiple species of birds ("Mob"), the glorious title page with a large feather blocked in gold, above the title in green lettering bordered in black, each section opens with the title in green lettering with a small engraving, followed by one (or more) full-page engravings, a total of sixty-one wood engravings throughout of which thirty-one are full page, each of the illustrations are printed from the artist's blocks; Monotype Baskerville on a special making of T.H. Saunders Waterford mould-made paper, folio size (14 3/8" by 11 1/4"), pagination: [1-8] 9-168 [3]; no. 8 of 135 copies (there were also fifteen deluxe copies). The volume housed in a sturdy slipcase covered with blue cloth. Loosely laid in are two pieces of correspondence to the prior owner from the Press: the first a two-page manuscript letter dated 23 February [20]07 signed "David" (David Vickers, Controller of the Press, who printed the sheets), the letter stating, in part, "...'Of A Feather' is going to be a true 'magnum opus'," and mentioning other places and personages clearly of interest to both parties, and the second a typed letter dated 29th September 2008, apologizing for the delay in production.

___CONDITION: The volume fine; clean and as new, the pages of the book are crisp, entirely free of prior owner markings. The slipcase also fine, strong and sturdy, clean and free of tears, with no splits to the seams. Altogether a lovely production in fine condition.

___POSTAGE: Please note that this is an unusually large and heavy book and additional postage may apply; please contact us for details.

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