The Private Press of Rollin Milroy from Wessel and Lieberman Booksellers
A collection of works from the presses of Rollin Milroy.
By Michael Stillman
For those who collect the private press, Wessel and Lieberman Booksellers has issued a pamphlet on Rollin Milroy: Heavenly Monkey & earlier imprints. 1997-2006. Milroy operates a private press, with the emphasis on traditional book crafts in publishing, rather than high volume. These are books meant to be appreciated for their artistry as much as their words. Milroy has published very limited editions for the past decade primarily under the Heavenly Monkey name, and before that, under the Lone Press imprint. You aren't likely to find many of these Vancouver, British Columbia, imprints in your local bookstore, particularly if you are not from the Northwest. However, Wessel and Lieberman have resolved that issue with this catalogue. As Millroy's work is all relatively recent, it's hard to know how collectible it will become. Traditional, high quality material can become very desirable over the years, and these works are both early in his career and printed in very short runs. Certainly if you ever wish to collect this fine work, there will never be a better time, as these rare items are still available at reasonable prices. That may not be the case much longer. Here are a few of the 33 items currently available.
Item 4 is A Short Story of Science Fiction by Anthony Burgess. This book was published in 1999, still under the A Lone Press imprint. It includes an original wood engraving by Shinsuke Minegishi. It is one of but 36 copies issued as a Christmas gift to friends and family. Priced at $100.
Item 9 was printed for Wessel and Lieberman in 2000, the first from the Heavenly Monkey press. It is a previously unpublished poem by Washington State poet Samuel Green, What the Fisherman Knows. Only 75 copies were printed, in celebration of Spring 2000. $35.
Item 8 was Milroy's first printing, as the 704 Press, Concrete Inspection, by Crispin Glover. This was actually printed at Barbarian Press in 1997. It is Milroy's first letterpress work, published in just twelve copies. $125.
Item 14 is an unusual item, An Invitation to British Columbia: A letter from T.E. Lawrence to Martin A Grainger. This 2005 Heavenly Monkey imprint published for the first time a letter from Lawrence written in 1929. Lawrence, better known as Lawrence of Arabia, had been invited by Grainger to settle down in British Columbia. Why is not clear. Perhaps Grainger figured Lawrence was sick of hot, dry places, and British Columbia is certainly the un-desert. He guessed wrong. Lawrence declined the invitation in this letter, which is why we don't remember him as Lawrence of British Columbia. This is one of 50 copies (of a total run of 70) signed by Jeremy Wilson and Don Stewart, who provided the preface and forward. $400.
Item 22 is A Christmas Secret from Heavenly Monkey. This is one of "a few dozen copies" published for family and friends at Christmas 2002. Wessel and Lieberman tell us this is the only place Milroy explains where the name "Heavenly Monkey" came from, but they do not provide the answer. You'll have to buy the book. $100.
Wessel and Liberman Booksellers may be found online at www.wlbooks.com, or reached by telephone at 206-682-3545.
Gros & Delettrez, 7 November: APRES DE MANNEVILLETTE Le Neptune Oriental
Gros & Delettrez, 7 November: CASSAS Eaux fortes de la Sicile et quelques vues d’Espagne
Gros & Delettrez, 7 November: CASSINI DE THURY Carte générale et particulière de la France.
Gros & Delettrez, 7 November: JOUY; GARNERAY Vues des côtes de France dans l'Océan et dans la Méditerranée
Gros & Delettrez, 7 November: LA PÉROUSE Voyage autour du monde
Gros & Delettrez, 7 November: LE GENTIL DE LA GALAISIERE Voyage dans les Mers de l’Inde
Gros & Delettrez, 7 November: LICENT Hoang Ho, Pai Ho, Loan Ho, Leao Ho. Itinéraires suivis dans le bassin du golfe du Pei Tcheuly
Gros & Delettrez, 7 November: FRENCH SCHOOL FROM THE 19th CENTURY Panorama d’Athènes
Gros & Delettrez, 7 November: PEETERS Description des principales villes, havres et isles du golfe de Venise
Gros & Delettrez, 7 November: PÉRON; FREYCINET Voyage de découverte aux terres australes
Gros & Delettrez, 7 November: STACKELBERG La Grèce : vues pittoresques et topographiques.
Gros & Delettrez, 7 November: VALENTINER Atlas des Sonnensystems.
Forum Auctions Online Sale: The Detective Fiction Collection of John Cooper Ending 7th November, 2024
Forum, Nov. 7: Christie (Agatha). The Thirteen Problems, first edition, The Crime Club, 1932. £15,000 to £20,000.
Forum, Nov. 7: Christie (Agatha). Dumb Witness, first edition, 1937. £3,000 to £4,000.
Forum, Nov. 7: Christie (Agatha). Cards on the Table, first edition, The Crime Club, 1936. £2,000 to £3,000.
Forum, Nov. 7: [Carr (John Dickson)], "Carter Dickson" and John Rhode. Drop to his Death, first edition, Heinemann, [1939]. £600 to £800.
Forum, Nov. 7: Berkeley (Anthony). Jumping Jenny, first edition, Hodder and Stoughton, 1933. £800 to £1,200.
Forum Auctions Online Sale: The Detective Fiction Collection of John Cooper Ending 7th November, 2024
Forum, Nov. 7: Marsh (Ngaio). Overture to Death, first edition, The Crime Club, 1939. £600 to £800.
Forum, Nov. 7: [Day-Lewis (Cecil)] "Nicholas Blake". The Beast Must Die, first edition, 1938. £750 to £1,000.
Forum, Nov. 7: Brand (Christianna). Green for Danger, first edition, signed presentation inscription from the author, John Lane the Bodley Head, 1945. £600 to £800.
Forum, Nov. 7: Christie (Agatha). Murder is Easy, first edition, signed by the author, 1939. £3,000 to £4,000.
Forum, Nov. 7: Sayers (Dorothy L.) Lord Peter Views the Body, first edition, Gollancz, 1928. £6,000 to £8,000.
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RareBookBuyer.com Specialized in Purchasing Institutional Collections & Deacccessioned Books
RareBookBuyer.com We Buy Librairies & Rare Books Nationwide ABAA Dealer
RareBookBuyer.com Specialized in Purchasing Institutional Collections & Deacccessioned Books
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Sotheby's Fine Books, Manuscripts & More Available for Immediate Purchase
Sotheby’s: J.R.R. Tolkien. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. 11,135 USD
Sotheby’s: Edgar Allan Poe. The Raven and Other Poems, 1845. 33,000 USD
Sotheby’s: Leo Tolstoy, Clara Bow. War and Peace, 1886. 22,500 USD
Sotheby’s: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, 1902. 7,500 USD
Sotheby’s: F. Scott Fitzgerald. This Side of Paradise, The Great Gatsby, and Others, 1920-1941. 24,180 USD
Freeman’s | Hindman Fine Printed Books and Manuscripts, Including Americana November 14
Freeman’s | Hindman, Nov. 14: LEROUX, Gaston. The Phantom of the Opera. FIRST AM. ED, FIRST ISSUE IN THE VERY RARE DUST JACKET. 1911. $6,000 – 8,000.
Freeman’s | Hindman, Nov. 14: GOULD, John. A Monograph of the Trochilidae...Humming-Birds. L., [1849-] 1861. $60,000 – 80,000.
Freeman’s | Hindman, Nov. 14: A COMPLETE RUN of Limited Editions Club publications, v.p. [mostly New York], 1929-2010. $50,000 – 60,000.
Freeman’s | Hindman, Nov. 14: ORWELL, George. Nineteen Eighty-Four. Lon., 1949. FIRST EDITION IN A VERY FINE DUST JACKET. $6,000 – 8,000.
Freeman’s | Hindman, Nov. 14: GOULD. A Monograph of the Ramphastidae...Toucans. L., [1852-] 54. SECOND ED. $35,000 – 45,000.
Freeman’s | Hindman, Nov. 14:The Federalist. NY, 1788. FIRST EDITION, THICK PAPER COPY. $60,000 – 80,000.
Freeman’s | Hindman, Nov. 14: SELBY. Plates to Selby’s Illustrations of British Ornithology. Edin., [1833-] 34. $20,000 – 30,000.