Impossibility
by Crawford, Robert; Saltzwedel, Caroline (Artist)
- Used
- Fine
- Signed
- first
- Condition
- Fine
- Seller
-
Walnut Creek, California, United States
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
Hamburg: Hirundo Press, 1998. First and Limited Edition. Folio in a case. Fine. Saltzwedel, Caroline. First edition in book form, number 10 of 25 copies, elephant folio size, [56] pp., signed by Robert Crawford and Caroline Saltzwedel. The first artists' book published by Hirundo Press. The text of "Impossibility" was first published on 18 September 1997 in the "London Review of Books", this is the first illustrated edition published in book form. Caroline Saltzwedel, born in England, has lived in Hamburg since 1995 as a graphic artist and painter. She studied German at the Universities of Durham, Oxford and Bonn, and printed graphics at the Ruskin School of Fine Art, Oxford. In 1998 she founded the Hirundo Press for artists' books in small editions; her works are in numerous public and private collections including the Deutsche Nationalbibliothek, the British Library, the Bodleian Library, Stanford University, and the Widener Library (Harvard) among many others.
Robert Crawford is a Scottish poet, scholar and critic, his main focus being in Post-Enlightenment Scottish literature. This poem was written shortly after the birth of his daughter, and deals with "female heroism". It tells the story of the Scottish writer Margaret Oliphant (1828-1897), who wrote over a hundred books during her lifetime, including novels, short stories, biographies and translations, all to feed her large family. The level and output of her work would, by today's standards, be "impossible" - hence the placement of this poem in an undersea, "impossible" world.
A marvellous marriage of the Crawford's poems and Saltzwedel's images, which must be read to be appreciated: "Where my husband's buried and where I watched my baby / Die in my arms; I am pulverisingly / Penniless, fortunate, and very tired; / In the early hours, weathered by children's breathing, / Chapters drift up among sluggish cuttlefish, / I see the passing lights of hulls above" (Section V).
___DESCRIPTION: Fourteen loose folios, fore-edges uncut, the first being the title-page printed in blue and black, followed by twelve folios presenting five stanzas of the poem on the left and original three-color etchings on the right, each signed, dated and and numbered by the artist in pencil, all with tissue guards, the final folio being "notes"and the colophon; Dante-Antiqua type, Velin BFK Rives Blanc paper, elephant folio size (15" by 11"), [56] unnumbered pages, limited edition, this number 10 of 25 copies, signed by Robert Crawford and Caroline Saltzwedel. Housed in blue cloth fall-down-back box, with the title stamped in dark blue to the upper cover, lined with grey paper; the box measuring 16" by 12".
___CONDITION: The folios are all fine, clean and without wear; like new. The box is also fine, strong and sturdy, without wear; a few almost imperceptible white marks on the front cover, overall a fine production.
___PROVENANCE: From a private collector who acquired this work directly from Ms. Saltzwedel.
___POSTAGE: Please note that this is a large and heavy volume, and additional postage may apply; please inquire for details.
___Swan's Fine Books is pleased to be a member of the ABAA, ILAB, and IOBA and we stand behind every book we sell. Please contact us with any questions you may have, we are here to help.
Robert Crawford is a Scottish poet, scholar and critic, his main focus being in Post-Enlightenment Scottish literature. This poem was written shortly after the birth of his daughter, and deals with "female heroism". It tells the story of the Scottish writer Margaret Oliphant (1828-1897), who wrote over a hundred books during her lifetime, including novels, short stories, biographies and translations, all to feed her large family. The level and output of her work would, by today's standards, be "impossible" - hence the placement of this poem in an undersea, "impossible" world.
A marvellous marriage of the Crawford's poems and Saltzwedel's images, which must be read to be appreciated: "Where my husband's buried and where I watched my baby / Die in my arms; I am pulverisingly / Penniless, fortunate, and very tired; / In the early hours, weathered by children's breathing, / Chapters drift up among sluggish cuttlefish, / I see the passing lights of hulls above" (Section V).
___DESCRIPTION: Fourteen loose folios, fore-edges uncut, the first being the title-page printed in blue and black, followed by twelve folios presenting five stanzas of the poem on the left and original three-color etchings on the right, each signed, dated and and numbered by the artist in pencil, all with tissue guards, the final folio being "notes"and the colophon; Dante-Antiqua type, Velin BFK Rives Blanc paper, elephant folio size (15" by 11"), [56] unnumbered pages, limited edition, this number 10 of 25 copies, signed by Robert Crawford and Caroline Saltzwedel. Housed in blue cloth fall-down-back box, with the title stamped in dark blue to the upper cover, lined with grey paper; the box measuring 16" by 12".
___CONDITION: The folios are all fine, clean and without wear; like new. The box is also fine, strong and sturdy, without wear; a few almost imperceptible white marks on the front cover, overall a fine production.
___PROVENANCE: From a private collector who acquired this work directly from Ms. Saltzwedel.
___POSTAGE: Please note that this is a large and heavy volume, and additional postage may apply; please inquire for details.
___Swan's Fine Books is pleased to be a member of the ABAA, ILAB, and IOBA and we stand behind every book we sell. Please contact us with any questions you may have, we are here to help.
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Details
- Bookseller
- Swan's Fine Books (US)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- CNJL1776
- Title
- Impossibility
- Author
- Crawford, Robert; Saltzwedel, Caroline (Artist)
- Illustrator
- Saltzwedel, Caroline
- Format/Binding
- Folio in a case
- Book Condition
- Used - Fine
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Edition
- First and Limited Edition
- Publisher
- Hirundo Press
- Place of Publication
- Hamburg
- Date Published
- 1998
- Keywords
- Fine Press - Hirundo Press, Folio, Artist Book, Caroline Saltzwedel, Poetry, Modern Poetry, Poems About Women, Female Heroes
Terms of Sale
Swan's Fine Books
We cheerfully accept returns for any reason within 30 days, so long as the book(s) is/are returned in the same condition as when sent. We will refund the price you paid for the book, plus shipping if the book was misdescribed.
About the Seller
Swan's Fine Books
Biblio member since 2017
Walnut Creek, California
About Swan's Fine Books
Swan's Fine Books specializes in Fine Press, Illustrated Books, and Books About Books. We also carry a wide array of general antiquarian stock and recently acquired a very nice collection of modern lit. Enjoy browsing our web site and visit our brick-and-mortar shop if you are in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Glossary
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- Fine
- A book in fine condition exhibits no flaws. A fine condition book closely approaches As New condition, but may lack the...
- ILAB
- ...
- Cloth
- "Cloth-bound" generally refers to a hardcover book with cloth covering the outside of the book covers. The cloth is stretched...
- New
- A new book is a book previously not circulated to a buyer. Although a new book is typically free of any faults or defects, "new"...
- IOBA
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- ABAA
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- First Edition
- In book collecting, the first edition is the earliest published form of a book. A book may have more than one first edition in...
- Folio
- A folio usually indicates a large book size of 15" in height or larger when used in the context of a book description. Further,...