ONE OF ONLY FIVE ARTIST'S PROOF COPIES, WITH 26 ENGRAVINGS EACH SIGNED BY THE ARTIST AND AN ADDITIONAL FULL SUITE ALSO SIGNED BY THE ARTIST

ROBINSON, Alan James. A Fowl Alphabet. [Easthampton, MA]: Cheloniidae Press, 1986. Octavo, original vellum boards, uncut and unopened; housed with two separate portfolios with loose leaves laid in in the original chemise and clamshell box. $1850.

Signed limited edition, number II of only 5 artist's proof copy (out of a total edition of 231 copies, only 31 of which are signed), with each of the 26 wood-engraved illustrations in the book hand lettered by Suzanne Moore and each signed by artist Alan James Robinson. The limitation page, inscribed "For Arnold and Mimi," is signed by Moore and Robinson and designer Arthur Lawson, binder Grey Parrot and printer Harold P. McGrath. With an additional suite of all 26 illustrations, each signed and inscribed by the artist "For Arnold and Mimi," and a suite of 26 leaves with the alphabet blind-stamped one letter per leaf.

An Abecedary of birds, from the Auk (Pinguinus impennig) to the Zigzag Heron (Zebrilus undulatius). Artist Alan James Robinson was founder of the Cheloniidae Press, and it specialized in producing finely-wrought volumes with a focus on sea life. With a prospectus laid in. Without the original drawing originally issued with signed copies.

Fine condition.