Bookbinder Stephen Conway. The Witness.
(Conway, Stephen – Bookbinder) The Witness. Poems by Miklos Radnoti and others. Translated from the Hungarian by Thomas Orszag-Land. The Tern Press. [Market Drayton.] 1977. n.p. 9.5” x 6.125”. Black & white woodcuts by Nicholas Parry. In an edition of 90 copies, signed by Parry and the translator. This is one of five variants specially bound for us by Stephen P. Conway in 2000. Bound in full goatskin with sewn in handpainted endpapers. Calf over vellum endbands with graphite top edge, waxed. Sunken panels on upper and lower boards, covered in craquelle calf, tissue collage and vellum. Alternate black and gold lines between panels; lettered in gold on the spine. Rough Hessian drop-back box. Signed and dated by the binder. Fine.
“The binding is based around the author, Miklos Radnoti, his homeland and his poetry. It tries to show that whilst reflecting on the present, his poetry is positive and hopeful for the future. The materials used variously reflect the text, his homeland, chaos in war, and hope.” – Conway.
Related items: Catalogue 37 - Summer 2009, Fine Designer Bindings, Poetry, Nicholas Parry, Stephen Conway