MITCHELL, Sleeth. Illustrations by Henrik C. Drescher III

Vox Corvi (The Voice of the Crow)

First edition. Oblong small quarto. Quarter leather and printed paper over boards. Boards moderately worn, and a small marginal stain on the last leaf of text, internally fine. One of 52 numbered copies of the Thumb-print Edition with the author's thumbprint. Inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper. A wonderful and unusual book with each page devoted to a single playing card, with the author's poetry about the mythical meanings of each card, and with an original illustration of each card by award-winning illustrator Drescher [with] the mock-up for the book with all the original art and calligraphic renderings of the poems, as well as some illustrations and title cards that were not used. In a separate folder, mailed from Drescher to Mitchell is the original art for 56 playing cards: a standard deck of 52 cards, a title card, two jokers (depicting Mitchell and Drescher), and a "crow" card that is used on the cover of the book. The art for the cards is in pen and ink and watercolor, the watercolor has feathered out a little on a few of the cards, but they are otherwise near fine. Drescher has published over thirty children's books, and is a frequent illustrator for major magazines and newspapers, including regular publication in the New York Times. This book precedes his first book published by a mainstream publisher by six years. Provenance on request.

[BTC #86220]