Incline Press

I'm lucky to have guidance on putting a book together which matches the research potential of Chetham's Library in the Oldham based Incline Press. I went to meet Graham Moss, the founder of the press yesterday, another time warp. Seems I shall probably be having a round binding so that the book will open flat and double spreads can be put in as inserts to avoid the problems of having two halves on an image misregistered. Also can get a title page beautifully handset. Yet to decide quite how the cover will be, but I know that I'm getting great advice as you can see if you check out the output of the press: some examples above and more information, including how to buy the books, at absurdly low prices for their beauty on the website.

Walter Herdeg

...And then some thirty seconds later (thanks AIGA) I learn that Walter Herdeg founded Graphis, the copy I have is of the one hundredth edition, in celebration devoted to the sun, and that Herdeg started his career designing this solar symbol for St. Moritz. The internet is humbling. His love of Garamond as body text strikes a real chord for me and his concept of a 'service layout' where form follows function utterly apposite for a photo book, and I have that delightful feeling where you have stumbled unexpectedly on something that will be inspirational. But best of all is his comments on selection: "I think in recent issues there might even be some examples of Post-modernism in which I feel there was talent. But then I show them not even realizing that they are Post-modern. I leave that to others who are much more articulate than I. I am so much an 'eye' man. For me, it's all visual."

A Zodiacal Being

After some very general trawling of the college library I pulled out an old Graphis book about the sun in art. It has the charming feature of six or seven inserts on different paper of various sun symbols- I should photograph it really so you can get the full effect. It is impractical, but lovely which is really the more important thing for a book to be. It also has a very charming introduction: "At all times, under all skies, the profound relationship of Man to Sun has persisted, and is still giving birth to new symbols, new images. I have gathered in this book a choice of the loveliest and most startling if them." (Walter Herdeg). I love that 'most startling'. It reminded me of the role of the sun in alchemical symbolism, where it might signify gold, and further- the philosopher's stone. Above, some plates from Bibliodyssey, the first from Splendor Solis, the sun in the context of the landscape represents different stages of the alchemical process; the second a: "Zodiacal being. Allegorical frontispiece with alchemical imagery, showing the Sun and Moon as givers of all terrestrial and subterrestrial life." (source)