1977 THE CREATION Elfriede Abbe SIGNED Ltd 75/135 Wood Engravings Fine Press For Sale

ABBE, Elfriede. The Creation: Lines from the Old Testament and from Paradise Lost by John Milton, as told to Adam by the Archangel Raphael. Wood engravings by Elfriede Abbe. Manchester Center, Vermont, 1977.

Large quarto, approximately 14½ × 10½ inches. Original quarter golden cloth over striking marbled paper-covered boards, with printed paper spine label.

A beautifully produced American private-press artist’s book, entirely conceived and executed by Elfriede Abbe (1919–2012), combining passages from the Old Testament and Milton’s Paradise Lost with a dramatic sequence of original wood engravings.

The colophon states:

“One hundred thirty-five copies of this book were printed on Japanese paper from the original blocks, wood initials and hand set type. Typography, printing and binding are by the artist.”

This is copy No. 75, signed in ink by Elfriede Abbe.

The book was printed in Goudy Deepdene Italic, with hand-set type, colored woodcut initials, and illustrations printed directly from Abbe’s original blocks.

A contemporary specialist catalogue describes the edition as comprising 135 signed copies on Japanese paper, illustrated with 16 wood engravings, 10 of them full-page, and notes that the typography, printing and binding were all executed by Abbe herself.

Abbe’s powerful wood engravings give the Creation narrative an unusually modern, almost expressionistic visual character.

The book opens with a striking image of the divine hand holding the compasses, followed by dramatic black-and-white engravings depicting the emergence of the world from chaos. Large colored initials are integrated into the typography throughout.

Examples from this artist’s book, including the title page, “Let the Waters under Heaven…”, The Creation of Adam, and “And God said, ‘Let there be Light’…”, are represented in the collection of Cornell University’s Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art.

Bound by the artist in quarter golden-yellow cloth over richly patterned marbled boards in burgundy, olive, black and gold.

Printed paper spine label reading “The Creation.”

The binding is especially attractive and strongly representative of the American private-press tradition of the period.

Near Fine overall.

Binding remains tight, square and exceptionally attractive. Marbled boards retain strong color and visual depth. Golden cloth spine and corners show only minor age-related spotting and handling marks.

Interior appears exceptionally clean and well preserved. Japanese paper remains fresh, with the engravings strong and richly printed.

Signed limitation page is clean and clearly numbered 75.

No significant internal defects are apparent from the photographs.

Please examine all photographs carefully, as they form part of the condition description.

Elfriede Abbe was an American sculptor, printmaker, wood engraver, printer and private-press book artist. Her artist’s books are notable because she often controlled virtually the entire production process herself: illustration, engraving, typography, presswork and binding.

The Creation is an especially ambitious example of her work, combining monumental wood engraving with hand-set typography on Japanese paper.

Cornell’s Herbert F. Johnson Museum holds multiple individual sheets and works associated with The Creation, demonstrating the book’s significance within Abbe’s graphic oeuvre.

Title: The Creation
Artist / Printer: Elfriede Abbe
Text: Old Testament and John Milton’s Paradise Lost
Place: Manchester Center, Vermont
Date: 1977
Edition: 135 numbered copies
Copy: No. 75
Signed: Yes, by Elfriede Abbe
Paper: Japanese paper
Printing: From the original wood blocks; hand-set type
Typeface: Goudy Deepdene Italic
Binding: Quarter cloth and marbled boards
Illustrations: 16 wood engravings, including 10 full-page engravings

A handsome and remarkably complete example of late twentieth-century American private-press craftsmanship, signed and limited to only 135 copies.