At the Pike's Command

По Щучбему Веленбю; At the pike's command; Russian folk tale. - Dubna: Phoenix, 1996. - 49x35 mm.; no pag.: ills. -ISBN 5879050327




Right:  Brown paper boards with illustration and title in Russian and English on front. Double page coloured illustration. Endpapers with gilt illustrations. Top edge gilt. Numbered copy 18/50.


Left:  White silk pictorial boards with gilt title. Double page coloured illustration. Endpapers with gilt illustrations. Top edge gilt. In plastic case. Numbered copy 42/50


Russian folk tale about a lazy and foolish boy Emelyan who lived with his two brothers and their wives in their fathers house. The two brothers worked hard but Emelyan lolled on the stove all day long, not caring to do anything or to know anything.
One day he was sent by the wives to fetch some water out of the frozen river. He chopped a hole in the ice and scooped up some water. Then he saw a pike in the hole and managed to catch it, thinking of a good meal.
Suddenly the pike began to speak, asking to set him free:  "Hark ye, fool ! let me go, and I will do for you everything you do not like to do for yourself. You will only have to wish, and it will be done." 

After many strange adventures and wonderful events he married the King's daughter Mary
They made a great feast and everyone came. Emilyan and princess Mary began to rule te kingdom.

The original version however said: "and when all these festivities were at an end, the king wanted to give up his kingdom to him, but Emelyan had no mind to take it. So the king went back to his kingdom, and Emelyan remained in his castle, and lived happily". Which was more into line with his nature.

Strange Fish

Strange Fish; Vreemde vissen; Seltsame Fische; Poisson Curieux. - Enkhuizen: Jack R. Levien, 1970. - 29x21 mm., ill..




 


Gilt red leather. In a red leather slipcase in the form of a book.
Printed by Koninklijke Van de Garde in Zaltbommel  (Netherlands).

Several illustrations of mythical sea creatures copied from a book of Jacobus Meydenbach in the Museum Meermanno-Westreenianum 
 (Museum of the Book) in The Hague. This miniature is dedicated to Mrs Dr. D. van Velden, curator of the museum.

Jack R. Levien published miniature books from 1967 to 1969 in New York with the imprint Trader's Press.  During a short stay in The Netherlands (1970-1972) he published several miniature books under his own name.
In his 'Dutch' period I met him when we both did investigations on the 1673 edition of Bloemhofje (Flower Garden), for centuries the smallest book printed ever.

Jacobus Meydenbach , German printer, was the editor of  Hortus Sanitatus (Moguntia civitate [= Mainz], 1491. In this book he collected hundreds of woodcuts of plants, animals and mythical figures.

Virtuous Woman

In praise of the virtuous woman. - Zuilichem: The Catharijne Press, 1994. - 32 p.: front., ills.; 62x42 mm.

Numbered copy 68/175. Bound in silverwhite silk by Luce Thürkôw with title in black on front. Printed om 90g paper by Jan de Jong and set from 6 point Herculanum by Jessica Zeelenberg who also restyled the large Hebrew characters on each text page.

 




The frontispice has been made by Auk de Boer (1957-2003) who was a specialist in linocuts.
The translation of the proverbs was taken from "The Writings" published by the Jewish Publication Society of America in 1982.



The Book of Proverbs 31:10-31:  Who can find a Virtuous Woman? For her price is far above rubies.