40                                 Roland Baughman

Modern fine books. A number of items could be reported in
this category, but perhaps the most notable are the two latest
publications to be issued by the Grabhorn Press in San Fran¬
cisco. One is an imposing folio entitled Alamos, a philosophy in
living, combining magnificent photographs and sensitive text by
Richard J. Elkus which reproduce the beauty and spirit of a
tiny Mexican town that has nestled in the Sierra Madre for
more than 300 years. The other is Twelve wood-block prints
of Kitagawa Utamaro illustrating the process of silk culture,
printed at the Grabhorn Press and published by the Book Club
of California. The wood-cuts are reproduced in full color from
originals in the Grabhorn collection of Japanese prints.

Of equal beaut)', though of quite different inspiration, is
another west-coast production, Albert Camus's The Fall, printed
by the Allen Press in Kentfield, California, 1966. It is luxur¬
iously decorated with large illustrations in from three to six
colors, all by Lewis Allen, who has used wood, linoleum, cloth,
and black line to achieve his striking results.

Finally, mention should be made of the opportunity that was
seized recently to acquire a fine representation of the work of
the "Hammer Creek Press." The lot consists of a dozen items,
dated variously from 1951 to 1960, all exquisitely printed by
the owner of the Press, John Fass, in extremely limited editions
—never more than a hundred copies. They were done purely
for the owner's own personal pleasure and satisfaction, and fit¬
tingly demonstrate the ancient Aldine motto, Festina lente,
which the Press has adopted.