Arete Editions

When I first contacted Phil Abel from Hand & Eye, I knew he was a master letterpress printer, he showed me a book that he was working on ‘The Wind in the Willows’ and as we started ‘The Case of Death and Honey’ he was well on the way to production. Then we joined forces to create Arete Editions in order to make, we hope, many more quality books. Here are his finished books, I’ve held them and they are a fantastic reworking of the novel, the illustrations, which overflow the story, are unique, a completely different way of approaching the story. All letterpress printing on fantastic paper and a lovely design makes this pretty stunning. Check the editions out at Hand and Eye’s web site: https://www.handandeye.co.uk

Oh, and another from Neil…

Thank you Neil, that’s a lovely endorsement

Here is the cover for the numbered edition showing the bee and magnifying glass design by Gary Gianni and Richard Tong bound by Richard Tong from Ludlow Bookbinders, that the film below highlights, it slips into a wonderful black, textured Coral cloth slipcase which also has an amazing four passes of foil blocked raised goatskin leather label in the front.
photos: Tif Hunter

Here is another glimpse of the books for Neil Gaiman’s The Case of Death and Honey, it is a detail from the lettered/Artist edition, with oversized handmade paper by Gangolf Ulbricht, each book has a bound-in original art of one of the forty illustrations by Gary Gianni, Gary doesn’t often part with his art so we’re really pleased he has for this edition, so each one is absolutely unique..

Bradel bound, the book sits in solander box made of Goatskin, also bradel bound to show off Gary and Richard Tong’s designs. The box includes a portfolio of prints, a slim hardcover book called ‘An Introduction of Sorts’ by Neil Gaiman, and also Arthur Conan Doyle’s story of ‘The Adventure of the Creeping Man’ the story that inspired Neil’s story, with two colour hot metal type letterpress and also four new full-page illustrations and decorations by Gary Gianni.
photos: Tif Hunter

Here is one of Gary Gianni’s forty illustrations (and one painting) for Neil Gaiman’s The case of Death and Honey:
‘‘I must confess, my dear fellow, that I do not
entirely follow you. What is a crime?’’
‘‘My death,’’ said Mycroft, ‘‘in the specific.
And Death in general.’’ He looked into my eyes.
‘‘I mean it,’’ he said. ‘‘Now isn’t that a crime
worth investigating, Sherlock, old fellow?…’

A little glimpse of the numbered edition of Neil Gaiman’s The Case of Death and Honey, amazing work by Richard Tong and Gary Gianni
Photo: Tif Hunter

Four pages of The Adventure of the Creeping Man ready to go on the press for printing. Typeset by Effra Press, book will be published with The Case of Death and Honey by Neil Gaiman

A sheet from the Artist’s Edition of The Case of Death and Honey by Neil Gaiman Letterpress printed from metal cast by Effra Press on hand-made paper specially made for this book by Gangol Fulbricht.