Written by Carol Cunningham

Mill Valley, CA; Sunflower Press, 1997. Hardcover. As new from the printer. First edition. Unpaginated (68 pp: vii, 61); 2 ⁷/₈ inches square. A handmade miniature book. Letterpress printed using Optima and Post Titling. Illustrated in color with linoleum blocks of original artwork by Carol, as well as 7 tipped-in copies of photographs and other illustrations by various artists, including drawing of Phaeton by Dianne Weiss, eclipse by Bruce Cunningham (Carol’s husband), and the solar press illustration furnished byJames Weygand of Napanee, Indiana. Hand-bound in paper over boards, with a red and black letter-pressed plate pasted on cover and title label pasted on spine.

Limited to 50 copies and one artist’s proof, numbered and signed by Carol Cunningham. 10 in deluxe clamshell boxes by Joseph D’Ambrosio, 38 bound in yellow Japanese paper over boards, 2 in gray paper over boards. Artist’s proof has a gold-stamped sun on the cover.

Based upon an idea from her friend Maryline Poole Adams, who knew Carol had always had an interest in ancient cultures and the sun, Carol describes this book as one of her most challenging. She spent a lot of time in the library identifying words to describe some historical event that she could print with an interesting illustration. Carol designed the title page and printed the two colors on a Gocco printer (like a silk screen printer, originally made for children). All the yellow sun block shapes and the square shapes were printed from lino blocks, as is the sun on the cover.

This miniature book utilizes each letter of the alphabet to illustrate and describe a word that relates to the sun in some way. Each left page describes the reference and each facing page its illustration. Many of these words describe events, gods or humans from history or mythology. This book will appeal to anyone who is an ABC collector or sun aficionado.

In addition, as a special offering from Carpe Libris while quantities last, this book comes with a yellow keepsake, suitable for framing. This keepsake, measuring 7 ¹/₂ (high) x 8 ³/₈ (width) inches, was made for a 1973 printers fair by Figment Press and Sunflower Press. This is a heavy reverse-impression print of the sun with the classic poem Chronomoros by Edward FitzGerald letterpressed in red around the image. A collectable in it’s own right, this keepsake is a wonderful pairing with the miniature book.

Standard: $195
Deluxe: Sold out