Bookplates: A future release from Yale University Press and a 1999 title I need to acquire

The hangover from the holidays seems to finally have passed and I awoke today feeling fresh and looking forward to the challenges ahead and a more productive, efficient and positive routine.  With a brighter outlook I decided it was high time to start trolling websites of my favorite publishers to see what the next months will bring in terms of new releases.  I visit publisher websites for amusement and ideas and my first stop today was Yale University Press.  Outside of the reality that publisher websites are generally terrible, difficult to browse and as boring as can be, I move quickly to the future releases and start browsing.

A search of my library catalog indicates that of the 1600+ plus books I own, 33 were published by Yale and I always expect to find something of interest when browsing their new releases.  I was not disappointed and in the five or so minutes it took me to browse the future releases three captured my attention and one of those reminded me of a want I almost forgot about!  Five minutes of browsing one must have book, one nice to have, and one for a birthday gift, not bad!

The nice to have book is a history of the book plate.  I don't use book plates and generally find them annoying.  Let's face it, unless the book plate is from the library of someone famous pasting an ownership label on a book is simply vandalism.  There are collectible book plates, however, and I'm pretty certain this future release from Yale would be a nice reference to own.  I may someday get a copy but today, this future release reminds me that I really want a different book on books plates.

As a committed fan and collector of Henry Miller, I have a longstanding interest in erotica.  My library contains many editions concerning erotica from ancient times through Miller's era.  It is not the erotica per se that I am interested in but the tradition of banned books.  I really need to focus a post on this someday but not today.

Viewing the Yale future release reminded me that I've been wanting to "view" and then decide whether or not to purchase a copy of Modern Erotic Bookplates by Luc Van den Breile.  I seem to recall a copy was in stock at a local rare book dealer last year, but it appears that copy is now gone.  Here is a catalog description from Boss Fine Arts, "...Large Octavo. 72 Pages.  A thoughtful essay, by one of the preeminent European collectors, on the modern treatment of the human form in bookplate design by artists of all artistic inclinations from throughout the world. More than fifty bookplates are illustrated, many in color and some very explicit London: Primrose Press, 1999. Casebound with dustjacket. $45 (+ shipping)."  Well, a goal for 2011 is to actually find a copy, view it and then probably buy it!

Admitting an addiction is the first step to perfecting an addiction

I have to admit a problem, my addiction to the contemporary graphic novel is becoming serious.  The graphic novel today is the comic book of yesterday.  Collecting comic books is big business now and prices are rising quickly.  It certainly seems more appropriate to be interested in a graphic novel rather than a comic.  Don't you think?  My interest in the graphic novel is not really new but the growing interest in acquiring more first edition first printing of the graphic novels being published today is.  I used to be simply amused by the graphic novel, now I need to add and own works for my collection.  Perhaps my current interest is a coping mechanism since I know I can't afford to collect Medieval illuminated manuscripts or the modern fine press facsimiles of these rare books.  I've collected many of the affordable facsimile editions but to satisfy my desire for more, I'm finding succor in the healthy supply of newly published graphic novels. 
I do try to control my wants and I have even tried to determine whether or not the graphic novel is best enjoyed electronically.  This seems a natural experiment pitting traditional print publication against electronic publication.   

My experiment began last year by following the fictional biography of Machiavelli being produced and published online by Boston artist Don MacDonald.  He began publishing his biography in February of 2010 with plans for a total of 170 or so pages, a new page appearing every Tuesday and Friday.  MacDonald has covered all the access bases including an easy to follow website, RSS feed, Facebook and Twitter accounts.  I visit the website once a week to read the new pages.  His writing is crisp and enjoyable, includes many links for additional information and his illustration are masterful.  I enjoy his project and only lament the fact that it would simply be better as a print book.

Anyone interested in comparing an online experience with a print experience could do no better than take a close look at The Odyssey: A Graphic Novel by Gareth Hinds, Based on Homer's epic Poem, Candlewick Press, 2010, which I received as a Christmas gift. 

A stunning publication with lovely illustrations, great story telling and a pleasure to hold and read.  This is a fine addition to my private library.  Comparing the two is not totally fair but compare I do.  I get much more pleasure owning the book and having it become an artifact of my life.  I just can't get that excited about an electronic publication, even one as well crafted as MacDonald's Machiavelli.

Both artists are from Massachusetts and I do hope they continue to prosper and push the frontier.  I will continue to follow Machiavelli by MacDonald online and I will now need to collect Hinds' three previous graphic novels, beginning with Beowulf.  Luckily I just ordered a signed hardcover first edition first printing for $5.49 plus shipping, an easy fix!

The Secret of Kells-an animated treasure, should be a graphic novel for kids

New Year's evening, after being forced to cancel a trip to the mountains for skiing due to balmy weather, my beloved and I discovered a wonderful animated film, The Secret of Kells.  We were lamenting the reality that with hundreds of channels, outside of professional football, we have a hard time finding anything to watch.  We generally strike out searching the on demand movie listings and neither of us have the patience or motivation to join NetFlix. 
A new year upon us, we decided to search again for a movie and while browsing the movie list, the word "Kells" caught my attention.  Annie recalled that her brother recommended The Secret of Kells recently and after a quick preview, we ordered the movie and watched it twice!  This is a perfect animated tale for children and adults with history, intrigue, good vs. evil, Vikings, Monks, fairies, the underworld, visionaries and manuscript illustration.  The animation is wonderful, the artistic style fabulous and the story gripping.  I imagine that the movie animator today was the book illustrator of yesterday.

For the book lover, the reference to Kells is obviously to the great Book of Kells, a masterpiece of Medieval book illustration.  Now on permanent display at Trinity College, Dublin, the Book of Kells, containing the four Gospels of the New Testament, is a major attraction for any visitor to Dublin.

From the Book of Kells

The Secret of Kells tells the tale of Brenden, a young, aspiring Monk, living in an Abbey under the direction of his Uncle, a stern taskmaster focused on completing the walls of the Abbey to protect against certain invasion by marauding Vikings.  Brenden's life changes when the Monk, Aidan, a master book scribe and illustrator, arrives.  Driven from his home on the Island of Iona, Aidan arrives with an unfinished and magical manuscript, the History of Iona.  Aidan, too old to finish his masterpiece, discovers Brenden is a developing master of manuscript illumination and convinces the young man to risk his safety, disobey his Uncle and leave the Abbey to enter the magical forest in search of special oak berries for ink and a magical crystal necessary for the completion of the book.  Brenden rises to the occasion and with the aid of a magical fairy white-wolf/young girl, Aisling, he finds the oak berries and the crystal.  What happens after to the History of Iona and how this all relates to the Book of Kells, is best discovered by watching the movie!

A wonderful animated film and certainly worthy of the 2010 nomination for an Academy Award.  I am amazed I missed this last year but thrilled that my 2011 began with a viewing.  Against the rising tide of animated toys, cars, crazies, and classic Disney characters, The Secret Of Kells is a touching tale that will generate many questions and introduce both young and old to the history of a world masterpiece, The Books of Kells.  A five star review and a great way to spend 75 minutes.   

For an introduction to the Book of Kells and Medieval manuscript illustration generally, a nice paperback edition is available here.   I find it remarkable than no print edition of The Secret of Kells has been published.  The rise of the graphic novel continues and some wise publisher should take a risk and develop a print version.