Memento Mori: Memento Vivere. A Typographical Interpretation of a Commonplace Book. [Introduction and text by Graham Moss. With Further Pages in Typographical Commonplace Book.] Two volumes, saddleback 4to, 52 double-page spreads, colophon, loose insert, 25.5cm, (Graham Moss) Incline Press, Oldham, August 2023.
One of 50 (175) copies specially bound at Incline Press and with a second volume of additional material. Introduction in monotype Bembo with text in monotype Centaur and printed in black with other tipped-in and inserted leaves printed in many colours and typefaces on various papers. Illustrations include: calligraphic ornaments by Elizabeth Friedlander, stock blocks from the Franklin Type Foundry, Victorian wood engravings, paper bags, prints by Ferdinand Pichard, Maria Bonita, Nick Wonham, Andy English, type specimens (Klang, SB Garamond italic, Lectura, Granby, Consort, SB Modern), chutney, quince and marmalade labels. Stiff clotted cream handmade paper covers bound over blue (and green) vellum thongs, patterned linocut endpapers by Nicolette Scarpa, titled in black on the upper cover. The additional material in the second volume is quite different. Matching slipcase. New copy.
Memento Mori: Memento Vivere, is both a memorial and a celebration of the life of librarian, bibliophile and printer, Kathy Whalen. Written by her partner an co-publisher Graham Moss of Incline Press, the book is presented as a joyous and moving series of fifty double-page spreads in the style of a commonplace book. Each opening shows a letterpress text opposite a sheet of tip-ins, colourful prints and artworks. The book charts both the home and professional times of Kathy's life during her twenty-one year collaboration with Graham, from labels for homemade preserves to Kathy's address card while working at the Bodleian Library. Written with open-hearted frankness, the book reminds us that we must all die, and so too be mindful to live as we should. Her ashes are mixed with the ink of this book. Winner of a Judges Choice Award at the Oxford Fine Press Fair 2022.
