The Story of Mision San Juan Capistrano (RARE. 1 OF 30 HANDPRINTED COPIES BY THE AUTHOR)
Santa Barbara: Hand printed by the author and privately distributed, 1918. Hand printed edition by the auth. Hardcover. VERY RARE. ONE OF ONLY THIRTY HAND PRINTED COPIES BY THE AUTHOR. INSCRIBED TO ALEC ROBERTSON BY THE AUTHOR, AND PRIVATELY DISTRIBUTED. Published in 1918. The Story of Mision [Mission] San Juan Capistrano. Additional provenance, from the private library of author Terry Ruscin. Bound in brown publisher's cloth with a white label containing red lettering on the cover. Spine is plain. Title page is lettered in red and black. Frontispiece is a sepia photograph of "The Man", tipped in. Printed on laid paper. Decorated initials in block form throughout. Contains five chapters: "The Adobe", "The Keystone", "The High Bells", The Coyote", and "The Man". EXCERPT FROM CHAPTER I: "No monastery was this place, no secluded spot for meditation and repose; but a school of industrial and manual training where the Indians were taught to know God, and to serve Him in love. Here was preached the mystery of service -- to borrow honest Will Comfort's phrase; the mystery of creative labor, of honesty in one's handiwork. The first result of this was the adobe." Contains two appendices. The last page reads, "Here ends the Story of Mision San Juan Capistrano printed by hand at the Sign of the Crossed Quills in Sta Barbara". 51 pp. In near fine condition, this fascinating and lovely copy bears only slight wear, and is protected by a mylar cover. Pages 13, 15, 17 and 19 have scribble markings in ink, possibly from the period. Previous owner Terry Ruscin is also the author of ‘Mission Memoirs: A Collection of Photographs, Sketches & Reflections of California’s Past.’ His circular ex-libre mark is blindstamped on the front flyleaf. A remarkable, rare copy. A perfect gift for any collector of California Missions or of uniquely provenanced, handmade antiquarian books. Additional photographs available upon request. Shipped with adult signature required. Full refund if not satisfied. Near Fine.
7.25" x 4.5" x .05"
Item #067426
Price: $800.00