Johnson, Walter Ralph

Narcissus

      [Newark, Vermont: The Janus Press, 1990] One of 120 copies, designed by Claire Van Vliet and constructed with Linda Wray at the Janus Press. This is a presentation copy, inscribed on the spine strip of the book by Claire Van Vliet. The book is housed within a fitted recess inside the publisher's specially constructed plywood clamshell box, with mottled lavender Japanese rice paper covering the spine and boards. The box is housed in the publisher's tan cloth and board slipcase. The colophon is pasted, by design, to the inside of the box. . Seven square leaves of graduated size (from 8" to 5 .") on different colored papers, assembled along a printed spine strip of violet paper. When closed, it forms a diamond-shaped book, truncated at the spine. When opened, the spine strip (strengthened with vellum) accordions out, allowing the entire work to be hung on a wall. A fine copy.