A descriptive bibliography of the five books from the private press of Robert R. Reid, published in Vancouver from 1949 to 1962, with commentaries on each by Reid and sample sheets from three of his books (Gold, The Journal of Norman Lee & Kuthan’s Menagerie). West Coast artist Takao Tanabe, who wrote the preface, learned job printing at Reid’s side in the early 1950’s, and worked on two of the five books in the bibliography.
Hand-set in 18-point Perpetua and printed on Arches mouldmade paper in a variety of colors with a Washington handpress. Numerous illustrations throughout. Handmade paper guards for each sample. Edition of 40 numbered and five hors commerce copies (11 x 15 inches, 38 pp + samples), signed by Robert Reid, issued in two states:
By advance subscription, copies were available bound in full morocco with leather onlays, by Richard Smart. These copies contained a fourth sample, Reid’s prospectus for his planned edition of George Woodcock’s play The Island of Demons. A total of nine copies were bound & issued thus.
The remaining copies were bound at HM: sewn on four vellum tapes, laced into a limp case of handmade paper commissioned specially for this project from Reg Lissel, and slipcased.
