Packets of type from Effra Press for our next Arete Editions project. “Frozen Hell” the original, longer version of John W. Campbell Jr.’s “Who Goes There?” which was made into the movie “The Thing” by John Carpenter. The novel-length manuscript was rediscovered in 2019. The story will be illuminated with sixteen oil paintings, some printed on single pages and others on two- and four-page foldouts. There will also be many black and white illustrations and decorations. The artist is Greg Manchess.

At Hand and Eye we usually have PDF files to show the position of type and illustrations in our books. These are two drawings by Greg Manchess for Frozen Hell by John W Campbell Jnr that we’ve printed out on tracing paper so that we can lay them over our letterpress proofs to check position.

Robert Heth and me in the Hand & Eye workshop working on our latest Arete Editions project, ‘Frozen Hell’ by John W Campbell Jnr.

For the last few months we have been working on Rich’s Lyra Classic Books, he unveiled the lettered edition today! Really pleased with the way it’s come out, Phil’s letterpress printing is complex and came out beautifully. Gary’s relief prints (his black and white plates) are truly amazing, let alone his paintings. This was a dream book for Gary Gianni, something he has wanted to do for decades, Rich will publish an artist statement when he goes live on Lyra’s web site soon. Years in the making.

The next Areté Editions book on press at Hand and Eye will be Frozen Hell by John W Campbell Jnr. Effra Press has set it for us in Monotype Baskerville and we’ve been making his columns of type into pages. Here are two of them positioned for proofing on our FAG proofing press.

illustration by Gary Gianni, created for Neil Gaiman’s ‘The Case of Death and Honey’ an Arete Editions project. Printed by Phil Abel

Heads up! Phil Abel of Arete has a small imprint, Hand & Eye Editions, his new book is a deeply relevant story about invasion war and being a refugee. These are beautiful additions to the Fine Press library! A very small limitation for an important book. The book goes on sale tomorrow. Get them while you can! I’ve held them and they are stunningly well made letterpress books (printed by Hand & Eye) and bound by Ludlow Bookbinders!

Phil Abel has a new book coming out under Hand and Eye https://www.handandeye.co.uk/
I’ve held it and it is a beautiful book and a heartfelt story

Phil Abel has a new book coming out under Hand and Eye https://www.handandeye.co.uk/

I’ve held it and it is a beautiful book and a heartfelt story