This Monkey’s Gone to Heaven
Checklist Ultimo: HM & HM Editions 2000-2020 (aka HM=XX)
A bibliography of all publications from Heavenly Monkey from its debut in 2000 through 2020, including those issued from the HM Editions imprint; a total of 61 titles (+ HM=XX makes 62). Each title is accompanied by a concise bibliographic description of methods, materials, edition size, and any other relevant information. The listings are interspersed with graphics from projects (& several spurious woodcuts), and samples leaves from 18 of the books.
The book was set in Perpetua, printed primarily in black but with some graphics in second colors. Title page calligraphy was by Martin Jackson. The paper is Guarro laid, printed damp. The edition of 40 numbered copies was uniformly quarter-bound at HM with a printed paper vellum spine and patterned paper over boards, issued in three states (see notes below). 4to, 68 pp. + sample leaves. 2022
The first part of the book describes the 41 titles published under the imprint Heavenly Monkey. The second part describes the 20 titles published by HM Editions, an imprint created to issue work conceived, and to some extent produced, outside the HM studio.
Longtime HM collaborator Barbara Hodgson was recruited to add doodles & marginal annotations to various listings throughout every copy (and not necessarily the same annotations in each copy). Thus every copy has been uniquely defaced.
The edition of 40 copies was uniformly quarter bound at HM, and issued in three states:
Copies 1–10 issued in a clamshell box made by Claudia Cohen, containing the book and eight folders with a collection of three dozen additional sample leaves, sorted by some unifying theme. Each sample is annotated with the numerical listing for the source book in the bibliography. In many cases these samples were rejected or not used (vs simply being overs), and as such offer some insight to the methods and challenges of inking and printing by hand.
Copies 11–15 issued in a slipcase with a companion folder containing 8 large samples taken from the studio’s handful of ephemeral or hors commerce projects, none of which are included in the checklist itself. The folder also includes a sheet with brief details of the contents (where & what).
HM=XX was preceded by a 2003 catalogue of books issued; an 8-page checklist (No. 2) issued in 2005; and a larger, more elaborate checklist (No. 3) issued in 2010. Each of those included the three books issued by HM’s precursor, A Lone Press (1998-1999). The new bibliography does not include those publications.
HM Editions’ final publication was PatternPattern (2019). Checklist Ultimo will be the last book bearing the imprint Heavenly Monkey; the imprint for future publications from the studio will simply be HM.