THE FRAGMENTS OF PARMENIDES.
Berkeley, CA: Editions Koch, 2003. First edition, DELUXE limited issue. All twenty fragments – ranging from a few words to 66 lines – of the poem generally referred to as "On Nature" by pre-Socratic Greek philosopher Parmenides of Elea (active circa 475 BC) translated from the Ancient Greek and with an afterword by Robert Bringhurst. Illustrated by Richard Wagener and designed and printed by hand at Peter Koch Printers. COPY "[B]"* of 26 lettered copies (from a limitation of 146 copies total) SIGNED BY BRINGHURST, WAGENER & KOCH. Bound in full leather and accompanied by a separate SUITE OF TEN SIGNED WOOD ENGRAVINGS as well as broadside type specimens for each of the two typefaces specially made for this edition by Dan Carr and Christopher Stinehour. This copy additionally INSCRIBED BY BRINGHURST "for Allen Mears, the kind of reader / Parmenides has waited for / 17.1.2004." *Although this is most certainly copy "B," it is not designated as such on the colophon. Instead, a printout of the email from Peter Koch explaining his oversight is laid in. Dated 3/30/04, it reads in part, "I meant to hand-write "Copy B" after the colophon but must have missed it. I will gladly fix your copy when I am in your neighborhood.... Yours is the first copy out the door and I am making all my mistakes on you!" Folio full black leather, blind-stamped illustration on front and blindstamped titling on spine; original Greek and English translations on opposing pages; approximately 50 pages, unnumbered. Illustrated with five engravings selected for the text including the black-and-white frontis. The full suite of ten color engravings are each signed by Wagener and lettered "B" with the exception of one which is inexplicably lettered "A." Book and engravings housed together in publisher's orange Japenese-silk covered "drop-back" box with the suite of engravings which are laid in their own matching silk-covered chemise. As issued, with a copy of CARVING THE ELEMENTS: A Companion to The Fragments of Parmenides (Berkeley: 2004; 8vo printed paperwraps; 128 pages, errata laid in) included. This companion volume features essays from each of the book's contributors documenting the 10-year history behind the making of the book. Original prospectus in envelope and 4-page "Key to the Specimen of the Parmenides Type; with literal and free translations of the Greek" also included. A remarkable collaborative production. No trade edition issued – there were only these 26 deluxe lettered copies with the extra suite of engravings and the type specimens and 120 numbered copies (quarter leather, in clamshell case), 20 of which were reserved for the contributors. BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE! Also includes Mears' file of ephemera and correspondence related to the project. (See pictures for list). Altogether fine. Rare.
Item #55883
Price: $6,000.00