wood blocks (printing blocks)

Scope and Contents The Abattoir Editions Collection comprises the correspondence, manuscripts, proofs, forms, and other papers relating to the books published by the small letterpress Abattoir Editions, in Omaha, Nebraska. Materials are arranged by the name of the author whose work was published in Abattoir Editions, with notes in the inventory list as to the types of material available for that particular author (correspondence, proofs, manuscript, etc.).New material added 2016-02-22:...

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Two woodblocks created by Wightman Williams for a bookplate for Amherst College Library, "From the books of Thomas A. Ethier of the class of 1921." Each block measures approximately 5 x 6.5 cm. The two blocks would have been used together to create a two-color illustration of a dragon's face.

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Woodblock engraving by Wightman Williams for the Cummington Press Christmas card for 1946. The card featured 'Ch(r)iss (loGod nit ane ingel laip)t, by Wightman Williams. The block measures 6.75 x 9 cm.

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Woodblock engraving by Wightman Williams for the Cummington Press Christmas card for 1950. The card featured the poem The Firs, by Guillaume Apollinaire (1950). The block measures 6 x 8 cm.

Scope and Contents Woodblocks created by Wightman Williams for the illustrations to Rainer Maria Rilke's Five Prose Pieces (1947). The blocks are of varying size, from the smallest at 2 x 2.5 cm to the largest at 8.5 x 13.5 cm or 9.5 x 12 cm. The fourteen blocks have been identified as those used for illustrations on pages 4, 5, 6, 9 (in 2 pieces), 10, 11 (in 2 pieces), 13, 15, 18, 19 (3 variations on two blocks, one of which is double-sided), and 22. The illustrations are abstract, but many include depictions...

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Woodblock engraving by Wightman Williams for the title page illustration of Fragment of a Meditation, MCMXXVIII, by Allen Tate (Cummington Press, 1947). The block measures 8 x 6 cm.

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Woodblocks created by Wightman Williams for the illustrations to William Blake's Genesis (Cummington Press, 1952). The blocks have been identified as those used for illustrations for verses VI, XII, and XVI. Each woodblock measures 8.5 x 13 cm. The illustrations are in an abstract style.

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Woodblock engraving by Wightman Williams for I Rise in Flame Cried the Phoenix, by Tennessee Williams (Cummington Press, 1951). The block measures 11.5 x 9.5 cm. Tennessee Williams objected to the illustration, which was removed from the final published version of the book.

Scope and Contents The Mary L. Richmond Cummington Press Collection covers the fine arts presswork of Harry Duncan (1916-1997) under the Cummington Press imprint (1941-1972), as well as examples of Duncan's work while at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, under the Abattoir Editions imprint (1972-1986). The collection also includes the illustrations of Paul Wightman Williams (d. 1957) under the Cummington Press imprint (1944-1957). The collection includes books, galley proofs, prints, drawings, engraved...

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Woodblock engraving by Wightman Williams for the title page illustration of The Book, and other poems by Harvey Shapiro (Cummington Press, 1955). The block measures 6 x 9 cm.

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Woodblock engraving by Wightman Williams for The Cricket, by Frederick Goddard Tuckerman (Cummington Press, 1950). The block measures 12.25 x 9.25 cm.

Scope and Contents Woodblocks created by Wightman Williams for the illustrations to Allen Tate's The Hovering Fly (1949). The blocks are each approximately 3.5 x 5 x 1 cm in size, and all are stained with ink. The blocks have been identified as those used for the illustrations on pages 8, 10, 11, 17, 18, 23, 27, 30, 33, 38, 43, 48, 54, 61, 67, 70, 71, 75, 77, 80, 85, 88, 92, 99, and 102 of the book, plus one block which may represent an unused illustration. The unused block appears to be a mirror-image variant...

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Woodblocks created by Wightman Williams for the illustrations to Wallace Stevens's Three Academic Pieces (Cummington Press, 1947). The blocks have been identified as those used for illustrations on pages 9, 27, and 35. Each woodblock measures 6.5 x 6.5 cm. The illustrations are the stylized initial capital letters for each work in the book.

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Two woodblock engravings created by Wightman Williams for Three Poems, by Yvor Winters (Cummington Press, 1950). The block used for the title page illustration measures 5.5 x 3 cm. The unused illustration, possibly intended for the cover, measures 3 x 3 cm.

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Woodblock engraving by Wightman Williams for Two Conceits for the Eye to Sing, If Possible, by Allen Tate (Cummington Press, 1950). The block measures 7 x 4 cm.

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Two unidentified woodblocks, possibly created by Wightman Williams. One measures 6 x 7 cm and is believed to be entry MLR 207 from the Flamer inventory. The other measures 1 x 12 cm and is not apparently listed on the Flamer inventory.