Invisible Cities Calvino, Italo; Weaver, William (Introduction, Translator); Thiebaud, Wayne (Artist) Andrew Hoyem and Arion Press (New),Modern Literature

Square, 14 by 12 inches, 164 unnumbered pages. The types are Veronese for the text, handset and in Monotype composition by Mackenzie & Harris, and handset Twentieth Century for display. The drawings are printed on transparent sheets of mylar in different colors of inks, each matching the color of the following sheet underlying it and the number of the chapter on the preceding leaf, such that the images are revealed only when each transparent sheet is turned over and rests on the preceding leaf, allowing the text and images to be read together. The type (on paper) and the photopolymer plates for the drawings (on mylar) were printed by letterpress. The papers, both colored and white, are Tiziano, mould-made at the Fabriano mill in Italy. The binding, made of anodized aluminum, comprises a back cover, a lid in place of a front cover, and four U-posts that form a ring binding. The posts rise from the back cover through four slots in the front cover and are held in place by an aluminium rod locking pin that slips through the loops. The "spine" made by the left edge of the front lid bears the title in outline. Edition of 400 copies, plus 26 lettered copies hors de commerce, signed by the artist. Italo Calvino (1923-1985) was the premier Italian fiction writer of the twentieth century. Gore Vidal, in the "New York Review of Books", singled out "Invisible Cities" as his finest novel: "In a garden sit the aged Kublai Khan and the young Marco Polo - Tartar emperor and Venetian traveler. The mood is sunset. Prospero is holding up for the last time his magic wand. Kublai Khan has sensed the end of his empire, of his cities, of himself." When a speaking engagement brought translator William Weaver to California, he was honored at a dinner at the Press, where Hoyem and Ketcham invited him to write a new introduction to his admired translation. The artist Wayne Thiebaud, in his first meeting with Hoyem on this project, said "Let's made the invisible visible. You'll figure it out." Please note that while this copy is in fine condition overall, the aluminum case shows minimal signs of having been opened at some point. ___POSTAGE: International customers, please note that additional postage may apply as the standard does not always cover costs; please inquire for details. ___Swan's Fine Books is pleased to be a member of the ABAA, ILAB, and IOBA and we stand behind every book we sell. Please contact us with any questions you may have, we are here to help.