ABC: An Artists' Book Abecedarium

Overview

Artists use the form and concept of the book as a means of expression in athree-dimensional object, combining a variety of artistic and literarydisciplines. Experimentation with paper, binding, page layout, typography,and structure adds aesthetic expression to a five thousand year-old form of communication and new vision to the building blocks of the written word. From simple to exaggerated, alphabet books prove that basics are as meaningful as they are complex.

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1225? Reiner musterbuch. Graz: Akadem. Druck- u. Verlagsanst, 1979 x NC75.R34 R43 1979

1375? de Grassi, Giovannino. Model book of Giovannino de Grassi. Late 14th Century. Milan Luzern: Faksimile Verlag xNC257 .G7315 1998

1463 Feliciano, Felice. Alphabetum romanum. Zurich: Belser Verlag, c1985 x Z40 .F43 1960

1898 Nicholson, William, Sir (1872-1949). An alphabet. London: Published by William Heinemann, 1898 x NK3631.N5 A4 1898

1923 Falls, Charles Buckles (1874-1960). ABC book, designed and cut on wood…New York: Doubleday, Doran and company, inc., 1923 xPE1155 F24 1923

1927 Delamotte, Freeman (1814-1862). Alphabets for signwriters, artists, and illuminators, plain and ornamental. London: Crosby, Lockwood & Son, 1927 Seventeenth edition xNK3600 .D45 1927

Tory, Geofroy (ca. 1480-ca. 1533). Champ fleury. New York: Grolier Club, 1927 First English edition x NK3615 .T62 1927

1933 Chaucer, Geoffrey (d. 1400). A.B.C. Birmingham, England: Birmingham School of Printing, Central School of Arts and Crafts, 1933 x PR1897.A2 A2 1933

1967 Chaucer, Geoffrey (d. 1400) A.B.C., called la Priere de Nostre Dame; made, as some say, at the request of Blanche, Duchess of Lancaster, as a prayer for her private use, being a woman in her religion very devout. San Francisco: Grabhorn-Hoyem, 1967 x Z232.5.G7 C52 1967 [Printed by Robert Grabhorn and Andrew Hoyem. Edition of one thousand copies.]

197? Anderson, Carol. An alphabet book. S.l.: s.n., 197? xNK3631 A63 1970z

1976 Weiss, Dianne. Witty words lavish letters. Mill Valley, CA: Splendid Press and Paper Works, 1976 xNK3631 W45 1976

1980 Stokeld, Sylvia. Pinks: An edible alphabet. Oxford: Inky Parrot Press, Oxford Polytechnic, 1980 xN7433.4.S747 P5 1980

1983 King, Ronald (1932-). Alphabet concertina. Guildford, Surrey: Circle Press, 1983 x NK8553.5 .K56 A4 1983

1984 Campbell, Ken (1939-). AbaB. Oxford: Campbell Books, 1984 xN7433.4 C36 A33 1984

1986 Robinson, Alan James. A fowl alphabet. Easthampton, MA: Cheloniidae Press, 1986 xQL674 R63 1989 ARC

Sidwell, June. Lady letters. Hyattsville, MD: Rebecca Press, 1986 xPE1155 S36 1986

1991 Adams, Maryline Poole. Jack-in-the-box: an alphabet. Berkeley, CA: Poole Press, 1991 xN7433.4 A23 J33 1991

Hockney, David. Hockney’s alphabet. London: Faber and Faber for the AIDS Crisis Trust, 1991 First edition xNC242 H6 A4 1991

Kunc, Karen S. O&. Lincoln, NE: Blue Heron Press, 1991 x N7433.4 K84 O2 1991

Kuznicki, Philip. Alphabet book. Berkeley: Peter Koch, 1991 xN7433.4 K89 A73 1991

1993 Alphabet of creation. Seattle: Tabula Rasa Press, 1993 xN7433.3 A46

1993 Strand, Mark (1934-). A poet’s alphabet of influences. Salt Lake City: Red 1993

Butte Press, c1993 xPS3569 T69 P64 1994

1994 Allen, Peter (1964-). An ABC tour of Wales. Newtown, Powys: Gwasg Gregynog, 1994 xDA7312 A45 1994

1996 Feldman, Walter (1925-). The alphabet book – WWII. Providence, R.I: Ziggurat Press, 1996 xN7433.4 F44 A72 1996

1998 Buescher, Jean. An alphabet book. Ann Arbor, MI: Digger Pine Press. Bloodroot Press, 1998 xN7433.4 B84 A47

Leonard, Julie. Al pha bet. Iowa City?: Half Moon Press, 1998 xN7433.4 L455 A62 1998

McAfee, Christopher. Rodentia abecedarium. Tuscaloosa, Ala.: Small & Simple, 1998 xN7433.4 M257 R63 1998[Illustrated with acrylic, gouache, and ink. Bound in goat and rabbit with hemp cords and leather endbands.]

Wagener, Richard. Zebra Noise: With Flatted 7th. Berkeley: Peter Koch, 1998 xN7433.4 W324 Z4 1998 over 1999 Morin, Jeffrey W. The sacred abecedarium. Stevens Point, WI: sailorBOYpress, 1999? xNE539 M664 S33 1999

Utah Calligraphic Artists. Utah calligrapher’s Roman holiday. Sl., UT: Utah Calligraphic Artists, 1999 xN7433.4 U83 U83 1999

2001 A mushroom ABC. Santa Cruz, Calif: Peter & Donna Thomas, 2001 xN7433.4 T517 M87 2001

Angebranndt, Susan. ABC. San Mateo, CA: Green Chair Press, 2001 xN7433.4 A65 A23 2001

2002 Hanmer, Karen. AAAAAZZZZZ. Glenville, IL: Karen Hammer, 2002 xN7433.4 H357 A6 2002

Machacek, Jim and Sibyl Rubottom. The alphabet of time. San Diego, ca: Bay Park Press, 2002 xN7433.4 M2595 A6 2002

Thomas, Peter and Donna Thomas. Accordion to zither: a musical ABC. Santa Cruz, Calif. (260 Fifteenth Ave., Santa Cruz, 95062): P. & D. Thomas, 2002 xN7433.4 T52 A24 2002

2003 Hanmer, Karen. The spectrum A to Z. Glenview, IL: K. Hanmer, 2003 xN7433.4 H357 S6 2003

Simpson, Alice. Cherub alphabet: prints from original drawings. New York: Dance Marthon Press, 2003 xN7433.4 S552 C4 2003

Wells, Mary. [3-D alphabet book]. Ogden, UT: M. Wells, 2003 xN7433.4 W45 T4 2003

Wells, Mary. [House book with Matisse alphabet]. Ogden, UT: M. Wells, 2003 xN7433.4 W45 H6 2003

2004 Eames, Holiday. The bird book. Westminster Station, VT: Bridge Press, 2004 xPS3605 A54 B57 2004

Hanmer, Karen. Patriot alphabet. Glenview, Ill: K. Hanmer, 2004 xN7433.4  H357 P37 2009

2005 Christine Tacq, Christine. Books2eat ABC. Thame?: s.n., 2005 xN7433.4 B75 2005

2006 Thomas, Peter and Donna Thomas. Spring wildflowers ABC. Santa Cruz, CA: P. & D. Thomas, 2006 xN7433.4 T52 S67 2006

2007 Wait, Laura. T-crossed. Steamboat Springs, CO : Laura Wait, 2007 xN7433.4 W34 T3 2007