brian cassidy bookselle

Production archive and related correspondence for John Gardner's
book VLEMK THE BOX-PAINTER, an early offering from Herb Yellin's Lord
John Press. Founded in 1976 and named for the many “Johns” (Updike,
etc.) whom Yellin admired, the press went on to publish more than 100
titles, including Gardner (another “John”). One of Gardner's early
letters in the archive reveals that Yellin, who had met Gardner as
a collector, wrote to the novelist announcing the start of the press
and asking for a short story he might publish. Gardner instead proposed
a collection of verse, published as POEMS in 1978, establishing
a personal and professional relationship that led the following
year to the publication of VLEMK, a fable unlikely to have been published
by Gardner's mainstream publishers (though later included in
a collection published by Knopf). He and Yellin remained close until
Gardner's death in 1982. The archive presents the beginning of this
relationship, and contains several short but apparently unpublished
pieces by Gardner, including an essay on fine press printing. A warm
collection, showcasing both writer and publisher at work, and offering
a valuable look at the early days of this noted fine press publisher.
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