Thumbelina

Thumbelina / by Hans Christian Andersen. - Loket (CZ): Jan & Jarmila Sobota, 2006. - 25x35 mm., oval

Designed, printed and published in limited edition of 20 numbered and signed copies of which this is number 11. Front and back boards are covered with brown goatskin . The title is printed in gold on a strip of goatskin, which goes from back to front boards, around the spine. At the ends of the strip is a gold thread with beads.

Jan Bohuslav Sobota, studied from 1954 till 1957 with Karel Silinger in Pilsen, and in 1957 he finished his studies at the School for Applied Arts in Prague. In 1969 he received the title "Master of Applied Arts" and ten years later the title "Meister der Einbandkunst". In Czechoslovakia, Jan worked in a workshop for applied arts and later in his own bookbinding studio. In 1984 he moved to the United States, where his latest position was as director of the Conservation Laboratory in the Bridwell Library of S.M.U. in Dallas.
Jarmila Jelena Sobotova, originally worked as a professor of psychology. She changed careers and has worked as an artistic bookbinder since 1986. In 1997 she received the title “Master of Bookbinding”. After returning to the Czech Republic in 1996, they have been working in the family business: Sobotas’ Book Arts Studio and Gallery in Loket.

The Danish author and poet Hans Christian Andersen (April 2, 1805 – August 4, 1875), noted for his children's stories, wrote "Thumbelina" (Danish: Tommelise) as a literary fairy tale about a thumb-sized girl in 1935.

"There was once a woman who wished very much to have a little child, but she could not obtain her wish. At last she went to a witch, and said, 'I should so very much like to have a little child; can you tell me where I can find one?' 'Oh, that can be easily managed,' said the witch. 'Here is a barleycorn of a different kind to those which grow in the farmer’s fields, and which the chickens eat; put it into a flower-pot, and see what will happen.' 'Thank you,' said the woman, and she gave the witch twelve shillings, which was the price of the barleycorn. Then she went home and planted it, and immediately there grew up a large handsome flower, something like a tulip in appearance, but with its leaves tightly closed as if it were still a bud. 'It is a beautiful flower,' said the woman, and she kissed the red and golden-colored leaves, and while she did so the flower opened, and she could see that it was a real tulip. Within the flower, upon the green velvet stamens, sat a very delicate and graceful little maiden. She was scarcely half as long as a thumb, and they gave her the name of 'Thumbelina', or Tiny, because she was so small. A walnut-shell, elegantly polished, served her for a cradle; ….."