rubber letterpress teaser

[Stavrogin]

A favorite thread watching this from beginning to end. 2nd Stickpin's vote on the trim but either way it's a beautiful production.

 

[Rekrab]

Thanks, Stav. I'll trim the bottom of the labels. I think it'll look better.

I just got a package of book cloth from Bill Roberts, a generous donation by him, and it is beautiful stuff, and in my favorite colors. The hardbacks are going to be nice looking, with lots of variety.

 

[Rekrab]

The pages for the hardcovers are now all collated and sewn. Next up: making the case bindings for the hardcovers. That involves gluing the cloth over all the boards I recently cut. I like the approach I'm taking with this project of doing one step for all copies, a step at a time. By doing the same step over and over on different copies, I get more skillful, the results are better, and it goes faster than if I was binding each copy from start to finish, one at a time. And it's moving right along.

 

[Black Swan]

We are following your moves, David.

 

[Rekrab]

Coming from anyone else, Black Swan, that might be a bit intimidating (they're wtaching me!), but from you, it's reassuring.

 

[Rekrab]

Just finished making 20 case bindings for the GHOST hardcovers and I'm feeling a bit like Bill Roberts. Then again, 3/4ths of the cloth I used was left over pieces from BOSP projects so it's not surprizing I would be thinking of Bill. And all those different colors and textues of cloth look great glued to boards. Not much more to do on this project: paste the sewn books into the case bindings and then glue on the labels. Maybe done in a couple weeks.

 

[nogg]

I found this thread very captivating. It's nice to see how much care and effort is put into a project like this. I've only recently got interested in artist books and the small press. It's really added another dimension to the 'book' for me if that makes any sense. I recently went to an artist book/small press festival at the scottish poetry library in Edinburgh and was blown away by the beauty of some of the books on show. The quality of the physical materials used in the production of these books, as well as the content of the work seemed like such amazing value for money when compared to most of the stuff i see on the best seller shelves in waterstones. Anyway, thanks for the insight David, you've greatly contributed to my growing interest in the small press.

 

[Rekrab]

Hi nogg -- thanks for the props. I wasn't able to work on the book last week and probably won't this week, due to other demands, so it's behind schedule, but I'm itching to get back to it. So close to being done.

 

[Rekrab]

Today I pasted the sewn books into their cloth-covered case bindings. A little tricky, but not hard. They're looking good. All that remains for me to do is trim the labels and paste them on the hardcovers, then I'll offer both hardcovers and paperbacks for sale.

 

[Rekrab]

I should have been done with the hardcovers by now but the past week was gobbled up by having to repair my bathroom floor (we were in danger of falling through the hole were the floor boards were rotted by water leaks). I'm finishing up the floor job today (or in the next few days) and then it's back to trimming the labels and gluing them on the covers. Frustrating to be so near completion with the books and have to go do something difficult and boring like house repairs.

 

[Rekrab]

The book is finally done. I'll post photos and announce copies for sale later today, in a new thread, and start taking orders then. I have to say the hardcovers came out fantastic, thanks to the cool variety of book cloths donated by Bill Roberts. They look great. Thanks, Bill!

Several of you have asked to reserve copies and they are reserved. I have a list and I haven't lost it (yet) in this madhouse (but it's a madhouse with a nice bathroom floor.)

 

[bospress.net]

Where to paypal you, etc, etc? Or should we send checks or cash?

Very exciting!

Bill

 

[Rekrab]

Bill:

I'll give payment info in the "official" announcement, coming shortly. Your copy of the hardcover is gratis, in thanks for the book cloth, and for a lot of other reasons having to do with what a great human being you truly are. I'm keeping copy #1, you get copy number #2.

 

[bospress.net]

It should be noted that those pieces were scraps. I use a LOT of bookcloth so I have a lot of larger scraps.

note to group... Anyone that wants to try their hand and start a small press, I am more than happy to send you some stuff and help you along with any technical advice. It does my heart good to see new presses pop up. Plus, this forum has a bunch of talented writers to ask for a poem or story to get you started. I would even be willing to letterpress a broadside for your press if you were serious about it... You just pay the actual costs that I have to pay.

Just a thought... There are too few small press publishers that care about great writing AND great presentation. We need more people that get it...

Can you make a living at it? No, of course not, but it is rewarding and you can make a few bucks.

I'm not sure what I would do without BoSP.

Bill

 

[Rekrab]

But what gorgeous scraps!

 

[Stavrogin]

I don't believe I ever sent a reserve request for the hardcover so best do it now. Great news on the books completion.

 

[Rekrab]

Got it. The announcement will be made momentarily...

 

[mjp]

Okay, move this party over to the other thread.