Giacomo Joyce by James Joyce, Art by Susan Weil, 20 of 50

Giacomo Joyce by James Joyce. Interpreted by Susan Weil

Vincent Fitzgerald & Co, Limited Edition, 1989, 20 of 50

Original Art Work by Susan Weil

Signed and Numbered by Susan Weil

Unique Binding and Clamshell Box by Priscilla Spitler, Hands On Bookbinding

This is a rare limited edition of "Giacomo Joyce” published by Vincent Fitzgerald & Co, New York in 1989 with a limitation of 50 copies with this being number 20. Published on the 75th anniversary of the writing of Joyce's prose poem which was first published in 1968 in a facsimile of the original manuscript, this extraordinary livre d’artiste work is hand-collaged using specially made papers, some with flower petals in the paper, Japanese laces, silver tea paper, and it explores several graphic media, including pochoir and etch and also contains a number of original watercolors. Priscilla Spitler provided a special binding for “Giacomo Joyce”, originally published by Vincent FitzGerald & Co. in 12 loose sections. The sections were hand sewn onto a cloth backing and bound in a quarter case with maroon goatskin on the spine and gray handmade paper on the boards. In keeping with the handmade paper of the original text, handmade paper endpapers were added for the inside pastedowns. Both the outer and inner papers were made by Cave Papers of Minneapolis, Minnesota. The title was stamped in pewter foil on the book spine and on a maroon leather label for the box spine. The leather “GJ” motif was created for the clamshell box that houses the book.

The book measures 13.5” x 10” and the clamshell box measures 14.5” x 10.5”. The text and illustrations are printed on handmade Dieu Donné and special Japanese papers by Daniel Keleher and Bruce Chandler at Wild Carrot Letterpress. The printed text pages utilize various types and colors of paper constructions with graphics placed between the pages including details in watercolor, a printed section from "The Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man" on pink paper, and numerous collages, etchings, and various shapes that interact with the text. This is a beautifully production that uses mixed media in a remarkable way to interpret “Giacomo Joyce”.

The clamshell box is in FINE condition. The book is in FINE- condition with a few random superficial marks on the pages. There is some waviness to the pages which is usual and customary for the type of handmade paper used to produce the book. Susan Weil has signed and numbered the edition below the portrait of Joyce facing the colophon.

Susan Weil is considered one of the most accomplished interpreters of Joyce and her work has been featured in numerous exhibitions staged by The James Joyce Society and leading galleries throughout the world. In her 2003 exhibition at the James Joyce Society she stated, “I have been making Joyce related work for 18 years. This journey began with my working on a limited edition book with the publisher Vincent FitzGerald. In 1987 I made images for another livre d’artiste, Giacomo Joyce and then in 1991, Brideship and Gulls.  During this time I was studying and drawing to all the writings of Joyce. This led to studio work which was exhibited in Lund, Sweden in 1990 and Basel, Switzerland in 1996. The James Joyce Quarterly published an article about my work with Joyce and I also lectured about my work in 1989 at the Joyce symposium in Zurich.” Susan Weil studied at the Academie Julian in Paris and Black Mountain College in North Carolina with Robert Motherwell and Ben Shahn and was previously married to fellow student Robert Rauschenberg.

About Vincent Fitzgerald & Co: Since 1981 with the publication of his first book, Vincent Fitzgerald & Co. has produced 50 incredible books in the “Livre d’Artiste” tradition. As theater critic Michael Feingold has written: "In our degraded age of uncaring mass manufacture...one artist (FitzGerald) was able to find so many kindred souls to share his love for works that are beautiful, meaningful, individual and scrupulously made."Gerrit Henry, poet and art critic, commenting on the effort that goes into each book that involves a minimum of 15 people working together on one project over a period of years wrote, “Fitzgerald’s works are acts of courage as well as creation.”

Photographs of the spine and clamshell box label, the clamshell box cover, some of the artwork not contained in the collage as well as a separate photograph of the signature page appear below. Please note that although the photographs appear digitized as thumbnails, they are viewable in the photo viewer by clicking the thumbnail.