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THE IMPROVABLE LANDSCAPE
by Gorey, Edward
- Used
- Fine
- Paperback
- Signed
- first
- Condition
- Fine
- Seller
-
Brooklyn, New York, United States
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
New York: The Albondocani Press, 1986. First Edition. Softcover. Fine. 5 inches. [34] pp., including 14 full-page illustrations. Original pictorial wrappers, stitched. Prospectus card laid in. Signed by the artist on the colophon. Fine.
From a stated edition of 326 signed copies (300 numbered and for sale, 26 lettered and not for sale); the present copy is signed but out of series and unnumbered (one of ten additional copies beyond the order sent to Albondocani Press owner George Bixby by the printer).
Edward Gorey's spoof - and near-verbatim recreation - of plates and captions in L. H. Bailey's 1910 MANUAL OF GARDENING : A PRACTICAL GUIDE ... . In BORN TO BE POSTHUMOUS : THE ECCENTRIC LIFE AND MYSTERIOUS GENIUS OF EDWARD GOREY, Mark Dery relates that Gorey was first introduced to Bailey's MANUAL by Judith Cressy of Parnassus Book Service near Gorey's home on Cape Cod. When Cressy encountered the book, Dery writes, she found its illustrations
"beautifully limned ... but '_odd_. There'd be this funny little drawing of ... _almost_ symmetrical plantings, but then there was this tree that was in the wrong place and there would be a caption that would say, 'A regrettable vista,' or something. It looked like an Edward Gorey drawing, and the caption was like an Edward Gorey caption. The whole book was full of these Edward Goreyisms that were done before he was born.' When Cressy showed Gorey some photocopies of the book's illustrations, ' he just whooped and rolled up the papers and tucked them in his pocket and ran away. He got it immediately.' The result was THE IMPROVABLE LANDSCAPE ... , which Gorey dedicated to Cressy. A note-perfect send-up of Bailey's didactic MANUAL, it's a kind of cautionary tale for gardeners and landscape architects ... " (p. 351-352).
Toledano A92. From the collection of George Bixby.
From a stated edition of 326 signed copies (300 numbered and for sale, 26 lettered and not for sale); the present copy is signed but out of series and unnumbered (one of ten additional copies beyond the order sent to Albondocani Press owner George Bixby by the printer).
Edward Gorey's spoof - and near-verbatim recreation - of plates and captions in L. H. Bailey's 1910 MANUAL OF GARDENING : A PRACTICAL GUIDE ... . In BORN TO BE POSTHUMOUS : THE ECCENTRIC LIFE AND MYSTERIOUS GENIUS OF EDWARD GOREY, Mark Dery relates that Gorey was first introduced to Bailey's MANUAL by Judith Cressy of Parnassus Book Service near Gorey's home on Cape Cod. When Cressy encountered the book, Dery writes, she found its illustrations
"beautifully limned ... but '_odd_. There'd be this funny little drawing of ... _almost_ symmetrical plantings, but then there was this tree that was in the wrong place and there would be a caption that would say, 'A regrettable vista,' or something. It looked like an Edward Gorey drawing, and the caption was like an Edward Gorey caption. The whole book was full of these Edward Goreyisms that were done before he was born.' When Cressy showed Gorey some photocopies of the book's illustrations, ' he just whooped and rolled up the papers and tucked them in his pocket and ran away. He got it immediately.' The result was THE IMPROVABLE LANDSCAPE ... , which Gorey dedicated to Cressy. A note-perfect send-up of Bailey's didactic MANUAL, it's a kind of cautionary tale for gardeners and landscape architects ... " (p. 351-352).
Toledano A92. From the collection of George Bixby.
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Details
- Bookseller
- W. C. Baker Rare Books & Ephemera
(US)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 1059
- Title
- THE IMPROVABLE LANDSCAPE
- Author
- Gorey, Edward
- Format/Binding
- Softcover
- Book Condition
- Used - Fine
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Edition
- First Edition
- Binding
- Paperback
- Publisher
- The Albondocani Press
- Place of Publication
- New York
- Date Published
- 1986
- Weight
- 0.00 lbs
- Keywords
- American literature, modern literature, horticulture, landscape architecture, landscaping, humor, satire, primary work, illustrated
- Bookseller catalogs
- Books about Books;
Terms of Sale
W. C. Baker Rare Books & Ephemera
7 day return guarantee, with full refund including original shipping costs for up to 7 days after delivery if an item arrives misdescribed or damaged. Items must be returned in the same condition in which they were received.
About the Seller
W. C. Baker Rare Books & Ephemera
Biblio member since 2014
Brooklyn, New York
About W. C. Baker Rare Books & Ephemera
W. C. Baker Rare Books & Ephemera specializes in printed and manuscript materials relating to the book arts, social movements, and unusual collections, exhibitions, and performances. We also provide USPAP-compliant, IRS-qualified appraisals and a variety of consulting services for both institutions and private collectors. Member, ABAA & ILAB.
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- Fine
- A book in fine condition exhibits no flaws. A fine condition book closely approaches As New condition, but may lack the...
- Colophon
- The colophon contains information about a book's publisher, the typesetting, printer, and possibly even includes a printer's...
- Wrappers
- The paper covering on the outside of a paperback. Also see the entry for pictorial wraps, color illustrated coverings for...
- 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...
- Rolled
- rolled spine or spine rolled. Damage to a book created by pressure to the spine making it fold or crease in the cover. Damage...
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