NOW AVAILABLE. The Lone Oak Press is proud to announce the publication of the first book in our “Extinct Pentalogy” series. Originally we had planned one larger volume covering five diverse animals, four that are extinct and one that came perilously close, but we decided that each animal deserves its own tribute. It was intended to have been published in 2020 and the printed dates in the book reflect this, but life somehow gets in the way of the best of intentions and it has taken longer to complete than originally planned.

Extinction as a theme has been a focus of The Lone Oak Press for a few years now, beginning with the publication of our book Extinction in 2015. We are living in the age of the Sixth Extinction, the Anthropocene: the Human Epoch. Human activity has made such an impact on our planet that climate patterns are changing, glaciers are melting, the ozone layer is thinning, and species are becoming extinct at an alarming rate. For such a magnificent and noble animal as the rhinoceros to be on the verge of total extinction is tragic and unacceptable. The rhinoceros has lived and flourished on this earth for tens of thousands of years. Within only a relatively short period of time, the last two hundred years or so, with the advent of guns, the Industrial Revolution, exploding populations, and other factors, we have decimated the rhino population and brought it to the brink of total extinction. This book is a way to honor a subspecies of the black rhinoceros that disappeared in 2011 and to highlight the plight of all species of rhinoceros.

The book measures 7″ x 9″ and has 52 pages. The text was set in Dante and Othello. The 21 engravings and text were printed on Zerkall at The Lone Oak Press by Abigail Rorer. Many of the engravings are multi-block color with some hand-coloring. Amy Borezo of Shelter Bookworks bound the books. It is printed in an edition of 70 copies with 56 standard copies and 14 deluxe copies.

The book is bound in a paper created from a hand-drawn close-up image of rhinoceros skin over boards with a stamped leather spine and a red hole on the back cover representing a bullet hole. The standard edition is housed in a slipcase covered in the same paper. The deluxe edition comes in a special clamshell case covered in gray Cave Paper with a leather spine, cloth sides, and a stamped leather label; it includes the book, a set of the prints in a portfolio, and a unique recessed well with a trap door called the “Cache of Curiosities.” Contained within are seventeen small engravings and ephemera.

Standard Edition: $950 Deluxe Edition: $1800 SOLD OUT

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‘Extinct- The Western Black Rhinoceros’ Deluxe Edition: paper over boards, leather spine and label, clamshell case. $1800

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The book is 38 pages and measures 6 x 7.5 inches. The text is set in Van Dijck and Goudy Open with six full page engravings and five smaller engravings. Many of the engravings are multi-block with some reduction and hand-coloring. The text and engravings were printed on Zerkall Book by Abigail Rorer. Amy Borezo of Shelter Bookworks bound the book. There are 195 regular copies, 20 deluxe copies, and 5 set of sheets. The regular edition comes in a slipcase and the deluxe edition is housed in a clamshell case and includes a special binding of the book, an extra suite of signed prints, and an original silverpoint drawing of gannets encased in a special folder. Each silverpoint drawing is different.

Regular Edition: paper over board with cloth spine and spot engraving on the cover in a slipcase. $180

‘An Idea of Geometry’ Deluxe Edition: paper over boards, leather spine, leather medallion on cover. $690

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Text set in Perpetua and printed on Zerkall Book in an edition of 100 copies, 95 of which are bound in paper covered boards with an engraved stamp on the cover and a vellum spine painted in red to represent blood and 5 copies are in sheets. The binding is by Amy Borezo of Shelter Bookworks, Orange, MA. 24 pages. 7 x 9 inches. $310

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The idea of a small illustrated collaborative book on the church was mutually conceived because both artists were drawn to the great age of the church and the beautiful sculptures, architectural details, and centuries of change and decay inherent in such an ancient building. Miriam has engraved the exterior images of the church and Abigail has engraved the interior images. The church abuts Whittington Court and Whittington Press and sits there alone in serene and quiet dignity, seemingly ignored by all the daily comings and goings around it.

The book is 32 pages and measures 7 x 9 inches. The text is set in 14-point Van Dijck with 25 engravings printed on  Zerkall mould-made paper.  The text and engravings were printed by Patrick Randle at the Whittington Press in an edition of 300 copies with 250 regular copies, 40 deluxe copies and 10 copies in sheets. The binding and patterned papers were designed by Abigail Rorer and executed by the Fine Bindery in Finedon, UK.

250 copies have a quarter cloth spine with paper over boards decorated with an engraved design, in a slipcase. $225

The deluxe edition of St. Bartholomew’s, Whittington: A Cotswold Church: 40 copies of the deluxe edition are bound in Oasis goatskin with a special inlaid leather hinge designed by Abigail Rorer who also designed the patterned endpapers, along with a portfolio of proofs of the engravings, all housed in a solander box. One print has been hand-colored. The binding was done by The Fine Bindery, Finedon, UK. $745

10 copies in sheets. $130

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This 32-page book measures 6.5 × 11 inches and was printed in an edition of 60 copies with 42 regular and 14 deluxe for sale. Set in 14-point Monotype Van Dijck by Michael and Winifred Bixler and illustrated with seven multi-block color engravings by Abigail Rorer. The typography is by Michael Russem, as is the printing of the text on Zerkall papers. The binding was designed by Daniel Gehnrich and carried out by Amy Borezo of Shelter Bookworks. The Regular Edition is bound in faux stone paper with a leather spine in a clamshell case. Only two copies remain. The Deluxe Edition (sold out) comes in a special binding with an extra suite of prints, an original watercolor of the plant, a herbarium specimen sheet, and a short essay about attempting to grow Eritrichium nanum.

Regular edition: Sold out. Deluxe edition: Sold out.

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A letterpress printed chapbook comprised of 12 pages with color endpapers, measuring 4.5 inches by 6 inches, in hand-sewn Rives wrappers. Printed on Zerkall Book with Deepdene type. The type and engravings were printed by Abigail Rorer in an edition of 100 numbered and 26 lettered copies signed by Abigail Rorer & Pat Alger. The cover is illustrated with a two-block color engraving and complementing the text are 4 color engravings, one with hand-coloring.

Price: $75

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Standing separate and huge in the New England woods behind my property, among much smaller trees and slightly off the trail, is a massive white pine. It’s difficult to tell the tree’s age but it must be measured in centuries since it would require the arm spans of six or seven people to encircle it. It was essentially hidden in the forest until the hurricane of 1938, which devastated the New England forests. The tree was first identified by a resident of our town when he made his way through the devastated forest to assess the destruction. As he told the story, he thought that he was approaching a stand of white pines, but instead he found a single majestic white pine with multiple trunks arising from a massive base. I first came upon it about 40 years ago and immediately started sketching and photographing it. I frequently walk these woods with a friend, and this tree has taken on a parallel journey with us as we grow older. Just recently, in 2021, as I write this update to the book that I first published in 2009, the tree is seriously rotting and decaying, massive branches have broken off and there is only one large branch left with any live needles. It’s happening very quickly- too quickly.

6.75 x 7.25 inches. 12 pages. Four engravings, one with hand-coloring, and two spot engravings by Abigail Rorer. Typography and text printing by Michael Russem. Perpetua types cast by Michael and Winifred Bixler. Printed on Zerkall. Paper cover over boards with a linen spine and engraved medallion on the cover. Binding designed and executed by Amy Borezo of Shelter Bookworks. Edition of 66 copies of which 56 regular copies come in a slipcase with the Afterword essay, and 10 deluxe copies come in a special binding with the book, the Afterword, and a suite of prints. Regular edition: $185. Deluxe edition is sold out.

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15 full-page multi-block color and hand-colored relief engravings by Abigail Rorer. Introduction by Maureen Sanderson. Design and text printed by Michael Russem of Kat Ran Press, Florence, Massachusetts. Fairbank type set by Michael & Winifred Bixler, Skaneateles, New York. Text printed on Kozo papers in the French fold style. Binding by Mark Tomlinson of Easthampton, Massachusetts. Bound with a handmade plant fiber paper over boards with a green leather spine and label & enclosed in a clamshell case covered in Chinese silk with a leather spine label. 11 x 6.5. 28 pages. Edition: 30 regular with 10 deluxe. All editions sold out.

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Selected entries were chosen from Thoreau’s Journal from the months of March, April, and May to give a sense of the awakening spring and teeming life in the pools and woods at this time of year. Thoreau puts so beautifully into words what one would see, hear and feel when out in nature at this time of year.

Accompanying the text are 28 engravings, some with hand-coloring, by Abigail Rorer and printed by the artist. She lives not far from Thoreau’s Concord, Massachusetts home and the engravings are based on the landscape and pools that Thoreau explored and the similar landscape that surrounds the artist’s home. Bradley P. Dean, renowned Thoreau scholar, wrote a compelling introduction to the book.

The book consists of 92 pages in a 10 x 8 inch landscape format. Michael Russem of Kat Ran Press designed the book and printed the text on Zerkall Book. Barbara Blumenthal bound the book and the marbled papers are by Iris Nevins. The type is Baskerville and was cast by Michael & Winifred Bixler. 58 copies are bound in morocco leather with marbled paper sides in a clamshell case with 52 for sale, and 14 copies, also in leather with marbled paper sides, are accompanied by an extra suite of prints and one of the original blocks in a boxed set with 12 for sale. All editions are sold out.

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The book is printed on Japanese Mulberry paper with six wood engravings by Abigail Rorer. The type is Cochin and the text and engravings were printed by Darrell Hyder. Marbled papers by Faith Harrison were sewn in a Chinese-style binding with a magnetic case by Barbara Blumenthal. 5 ¾ x 8 inches, 24 pages. Edition of 120 with 110 for sale, 10 deluxe [sold out] and 100 regular copies. Price: $200

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The book is 36 pages with five full page, hand-colored etchings and five small wood engravings by Abigail Rorer. The type is Granjon on Rives and the text and wood engravings were printed by Darrell Hyder of Sun Hill Press, North Brookfield, MA. Bound in quarter-leather with marbled paper sides in a clamshell box by Barbara Blumenthal of Catawba Press, Northampton, MA. The marbled paper is by Faith Harrison. 7 inches x 9.75 inches. Edition of 120 with 110 for sale, 100 regular and 10 deluxe. Out of print.

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