Collecting Charles van Sandwyk Artist Books, 2008-present

Collecting » Authors & Artists » Charles van Sandwyk » Publications: 2010-present

Charles van Sandwyk: A Guide for Collectors (p.2)

Annotated bibliography: Artist Books from 1983-2009 | Artist Books from 2010-current [this page] | Guide to Ephemera | CVS Online Art Gallery | Framed Cards

Blog posts and video reviews: Delightful Private Press Fairy Books | Whimsical Feathered Friends | How to See Fairies | Grand Beetles and Secret Mice

Introduction

CVS owl and raven 2

Charles van Sandwyk is one of my absolute favourite artists, and I have prepared the annotated bibliography and list of Charles van Sandwyk publications below as a guide for collectors. After I started adding in some sample pages from the books (you can click on the thumbnails below to enlarge the images), the page started getting too slow to load, so I have had to split it into two parts. Some of the books also have links to video reviews and more in-depth dedicated posts if you’re interested in knowing more.

This is page 2 of the collector’s guide, covering publications from 2010 to the present. I recommend starting on page 1 of the collector’s guide first if you came here through another link – it includes lots of additional background information and where to find his work!

CVS High Branch Ephemera

This collector’s guide was last updated in September 2022.

Charles van Sandwyk - The Annotated Bibliography

Please note that some of the links below are affiliate links. I very deeply appreciate your support of my site hosting costs if you use them, but warmly encourage you to buy from your local Indie bookshop (or from Charles directly!) if you have the opportunity.

2010s

The Toadish Art of Being by Charles van Sandwyk

Published by the artist, 2010

About the book: A piece about various toads, including ink drawings, a short poem on green paper, and two copper plate prints from the animal wisdom collection. 

A handmade book with marbled brown and green paper cover. 11p, 17cm x 24.5cm.

A copy of this work is available for viewing in the Bruce Peel Special Collections, who also kindly provided the images used here.

Neighbourly Birds Remembered: twenty-five years later by Charles van Sandwyk

Published by the artist, 2010

About the book: A reminiscence by the artist on his book ‘A Selection of Neighbourly Birds’. 

A handmade book, with marbled orange and brown paper cover. 11p, 16.5 in x 5 in.

A copy of this work is available for viewing in the Bruce Peel Special Collections, who also kindly provided the images used here

Will O’ the Wisps for Tiny Hands (prototype) by Charles van Sandwyk 

CVS Fine Arts, c2010

About the book: A collection of illustrations of tiny magical creatures. This is a unique prototype that was later published as Will o’ the Wisps for Tiny Hands in 2012.

2011 CVS Betwixt and Between
2011 CVS Betwixt and Between Limited
Betwixt and Between: The Art and Influence of Charles van Sandwyk (trade edition) by Charles van Sandwyk

University of British Columbia Library, 2011

About the book: The title is taken from a line from Charles’ earlier work Sketches from the Dream Isle of Birds: “The birds are above, the fish are below, and we are betwixt and between.”

This is a descriptive catalogue produced to accompany the 2011 UBC exhibition of the same name that explored some of the connections between van Sandwyk and the artists, writers and teachers who inspired his artistic  career. 

Standard editionFeatures maroon card covers with French flaps and hand-sewn pages. Trade edition limited to 2000 copies.

Limited edition: Features forest green card covers with French flaps and hand-sewn pages. Also includes a signed etching of a bee holding a candle and a book. Limited to 100 signed and numbered copies.

 

► Find a copy of Betwixt and Between at Abes | eBay

Quality Time CD featuring Charles van Sandwyk and the Brandywine Boys

CVS Fine Arts, 2011

About the work: A musical CD by Charles and his band the Brandywine Boys, with cover and interior art by Charles. Contains the following songs:

1. Grandfather’s Clock (4:33)
2. Quality Time (4:36)
3. Healing Hands of Time (4:56)
4. The Imperial Clock (5:30)
5. Stardust (4:31)
6. Finale / As Time Goes By (1:06)

Bonus: Listen to the band play their cover of Willie Nelson’s Healing Hands of Time here.

► Find a copy of Quality Time at Abes | eBay

2011 CVS Will o the Wisps
Will O’ the Wisps for Tiny Hands by Charles van Sandwyk

CVS Fine Arts, 2012

About the book: A collection of illustrations of tiny magical creatures. A miniature accordion-folded page book closed with a paper band, under which a signed and embossed leaf is laid. Accompanied by a leaf cutout of marbled paper, embossed with veins, signed by the artist. 

Some copies are titled “for tiny hands” and some are titled “for little hands”. 9p, 62mm x 43mm. Limited to 35 signed and numbered copies.

► Very scarce. Find a copy of Will o’ the Wisps at Abes | eBay

2012 CVS Full Moon Eyes
Full Moon Eyes by Charles van Sandwyk

CVS Fine Arts, 2012.

About the book: “An Ode to the Wisdom and Forbearance of Owls.”

A poetic ode to the wise old owl with various owl illustrations (and one painter mouse). 

Dark green or wine-coloured wrappers featuring French flaps, hand-sewn pages and 15 illustrations, including a foldout triptych reinterpretation of “Life is Art” from 1997. Some editions predominantly feature green internal pages and some wine-coloured pages.

18pp. 16 x 23 cm. 2000 copies.

► Find a copy of Full Moon Eyes at Abes | eBay

I Believe: Two Poems and a Hidden Thought by Charles van Sandwyk

Savuti Press, 2012

About the book: A whimsical book featuring two poems (“Fortress on the Hill” and “I Believe” as well as a ‘hidden thought’ sewn in underneath the dust jacket. The book is full of literary tricks, such as the subtitle printed backwards on the title page (i.e. in mirror writing). 

Standard editionMaroon coloured paper wrappers and marbled end-papers, text block consists of a single gathering, with a ‘hidden’ folded printed card sewn in. 

8p, 9in x 6.5in. 2000 copies.

Limited edition: A signed limited edition in green wraps, with a signed and numbered copperplate etching of “Crow with Field Guide to Humans” tipped in. Green and gold marbled end papers.

9 in x 6.5 in. Limited to 125 copies, numbered on a ‘literary mouse’ bookmark.

► Find a copy of I Believe / Two Poems at Abes | eBay

Charles van Sandwyk and the Children’s Literary Tradition by University of British Columbia, illustrated by Charles van Sandwyk

University of British Columbia, 2013

About the book: An exhibition catalogue for the UBC Library’s Rare Books and Special Collections exhibition, held on 1-31 October 2013. 20p, 9in x 6 in. Limited edition of 100 copies.

2013 CVS An Unexpected Gift
An Unexpected Gift by Charles van Sandwyk

The Fairy Press, 2013

About the book: The Untold Tale of Bartholomew the Green (Cousin to our beloved Father Christmas) who left the Comforts of Antarctica to Help Restore an Old-fashioned Christmas to a Wayward and Needy World ‘translated’ by Charles van Sandwyk

Featuring metallic gold endsheets, 16 pages of illustrations and 24 pages of text. Seven watercolour and 8 ink drawings printed on three papers. Matt gilt endpapers with a repeating holly sprig design. Four colours of foil stampings shine on on the cherry-red cover. 44pp, 16cm x 23cm, initial print run of 1500.

► Find a copy of An Unexpected Gift at Abes | eBay

2014 CVS Long Ago In Bangalore ALcuin
Long Ago in Bangalore (Alcuin Edition) by Charles van Sandwyk

The Alcuin Society, 2014

About the work: An original poem by the artist, printed in two colours as a keepsake for the Alcuin Society’s Annual General Meeting on 9 June 2014. 

The Alcuin Society is proud to announce that its Annual General Meeting will have a special guest in the person of Charles van Sandwyk […] The dreamy, ethereal feel of his work, evocative of old print, gives his illustrations a distinctive, compelling style. The participants to AGM have the unique opportunity to receive a limited edition keepsake designed by Charles himself for this occasion.”

4pp, 16cm x 23cm. Limited edition of 70 signed and numbered copies.

► Very scarce. Find a copy of Long Ago (Alcuin ed) Abes | eBay 

2014 CVS Long Ago In Bangalore

About the work: An expansion of the earlier Alcuin keepsake. Includes a two-page poem with two interior illustrations of dragons and books. Contains six bookplates and five (rather than four) bookmarks (all with different illustrations), as well as a bookplate containing a short poem. 

Metallic gold card sleeve with tipped-on illustration on front. 4pp, 16cm x 23cm. Two printings each limited to 100 sets (the reprint has only one illustration and bookplates are on white paper).

A separate non-limited edition collection of these bookmarks and bookplates is also available (see the ephemera page).

► Find a copy of Long Ago In Bangalore at Abes | eBay 

Alice’s List: a.k.a. ‘Alice’s Illustrations in Wonderland’ by Charles van Sandwyk

Printed by the author, North Vancouver, 2014

About the item: An annotated list of 30 illustrations to be completed by the artist for his Folio Society book “Alice in Wonderland”.

One sketch of the Cheshire cat. Original marble wrappers with laid on title.

8 leaves, 22cm. A “small number of [unnumbered] copies” was produced. 

Curiouser and Curiouser: The White Rabbit Method for Telling Time by Charles van Sandwyk

Published by the author, North Vancouver, 2014

About the book: Based on the limited edition of the Folio Society Alice in Wonderland, including a signed artist’s proof print of the White Rabbit.

Originally planned as a limited edition of 100, but “only a small number” of unnumbered artist copies were released in green, red or black wraps. 8 pages, 23cm. 

Time Flies: The Incongruity of Timelessness Explained With Eight Etchings by Charles van Sandwyk

Published by the author, 2014

About the book: A collection of eight etchings. 20 x 24 p. Limited edition of 10 holographic copies.

A copy of this work is available at the W. A. C. Bennett Library (Simon Fraser University, Burnaby), who kindly provided the photo.

Beatrice M Van Sandwyk May 25th 1932 to January 5th 2014

Published by the author, 2014

About the item: A moving tribute to Charles van Sandwyk’s mother, Beatrice M. van Sandwyk. Includes memories from loved ones, images of her life, and a few touching stories.

Two sketches, one of an angel child on the first page, another of a sleeping mouse on a candlestick with a book. Metallic wrappers, with a photo of Beatrice laid on the cover.

14p, 9 x 5.5 in. Limited edition of 100 copies.

► Very scarce. Find a copy of A Tribute to Beatrice van Sandwyk on Abes | eBay

Tree Whispers (trial edition) by Charles van Sandwyk

Published by the author, 2014

About the book: An illustrated poem. This was a trial publication for the later full-size 2015 edition, with oatmeal painted paper wraps, gold foil endpapers. 6 pages. 16cm x 23cm. Limited edition of 8 copies.

► Very scarce. Find a copy of Tree Whispers (trial edition)… on Abes | eBay

Tree Whispers by Charles van Sandwyk

Savuti Press, 2015

About the book: A fanciful poem written by the author, accompanied by his delightful illustrations. 

Standard edition: Maroon wrappers with a string-tied fold-over brown paper jacket featuring a mounted colour illustration on the front cover with a gold and black decorative border surrounding and continuing to the back page. Features two tissue printed illustrations, with several other colour illustrations throughout the text. 24 pages. 16cm x 23cm. 600 copies.

Limited edition: Deluxe edition of Tree Whispers, with a green fold-over paper jacket and including an original signed limited edition print. 24 pages. 16cm x 23cm. Limited edition of 120 copies.

❦ Bonus: Watch Charles read from Tree Whispers (Youtube)…

► Uncommon. Find a copy of Tree Whispers on Abes | eBay

The Golden Key by George MacDonald, illustrated by Charles van Sandwyk. Designed by Mike and Rita Tortorello.

Pegana Press, 2015

About the book: Hand-printed with hand-set Goudy and Civilite types on a Vandercook SP 15 press on Hanhnemuhle and Canson papers; hand bound in soft yellow cloth with printed paper title label on spine, decorative Florentine endpapers, pictorial label mounted on front panel. Watercolour frontispiece and interior pen and ink illustrations by Charles van Sandwyk. Each frontispiece has been hand signed by Charles and Giclee printed. Printed in sections of French and German paper with hues of rose, custard, soft green, and blue. A small letterpress print of The Old Man Of The Sea was also included with the book. 44p, 24cm. 

Limited to 80 copies plus six out-of-series artist copies bound in leather by Richard Smart of the Old English Bindery. 

Scarce. Find a copy of The Golden Key at Abes or eBay 

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (FS Limited Edition) by Lewis Carroll, illustrated by Charles van Sandwyk.

The Folio Society, 2016.

About the book: Quarter bound in vellum with vellum tips, blocked on the spine in 24-carat gold, case sides blocked in four foils on Merida paper. Limitation spread blocked in two colours on two shades of Hahnemühle Bugra Butten laid paper, inset with a hand-printed etching hand-printed on Somerset Velvet Buff hand-made paper; signed and numbered by the artist. Eleven plates printed in full colour with gold borders on Art paper, tipped into the text within ornamental gold borders and nine scraps printed in full colour on Art paper, individually cut out and tipped in place. Set in Founders Caslon types, with hand-drawn initials and circa 50 line-drawings; printed in warm black and gold inks on Ambassador Cream twin-wire laid paper. Endpapers printed letterpress in dark red ink on Hahnemühle Bugra Butten laid paper. Issued in Solander Box bound in Paradise cloth, lined with Hahnemühle Bugra Butten, spine titling label blocked in two colours on laid paper. Gilded top edge, 172 pages, 13″ x 9¾”. The edition is limited to 1000 copies, signed and numbered by the artist on the etching, and 30 hors commerce copies numbered in roman numerals.

Release price £495 (with member’s discount), raised to £545 on publication.

A 2p illustrated ‘proclamation’ by the White Rabbit was also released by the Folio Society as part of its prospectus and advertising campaign – see the ephemera page for more details. 

❦ Bonus: Flip through Alice in Wonderland and other Folio Society limited editions of ‘cherished tales (YouTube).

► Find a copy of Alice in Wonderland (Folio Society Limited Ed) at Abes | eBay

Letters from Fairyland by Charles van Sandwyk

CVS Fine Arts, 2016

About the book: A delightful production which was inspired by a letter to the artist from a 9-year-old English girl who asked for advice on attracting fairies to her garden. 

Original pale sage green linen-textured pictorial card covers with decorated turn-ins on cream linen-textured stock. Front and rear covers both affixed with marbled card pockets containing a neatly folded letter (including facsimile stamps and postmark) purportedly from Emma Gladstone to the artist and printed in van Sandwyk’s characteristic calligraphy; the rear pocket containing an accordion-folded 6-leaf panorama of Little People Common to the Natural Forest printed throughout in colour to both sides; also included are 4 other loose inserts in pockets including a letter; illustrated fairy bank notes; a Royal Summons from the King of the Woodland Gnomes; and a note written on a folded paper leaf. Includes three folded letters, three postage stamps, one leaf-shaped letter, and one accordion-folded illustration.  

12p, 23cm. Limited edition of 200 copies.

❦ Also, see inside Letters from Fairyland in this post and video here…

► Scarce. Find a copy of Letters from Fairyland on Abes | eBay

Fairies in Fijiland by Charles van Sandwyk

The Fairy Press, 2017

About the book: A tiny glimpse into the lives of the most diminutive race in the Enchanted Isles of Fiji. Original hand-marbled card covers, with decorated paper label laid on, individually hand-sewn with bronze metallic inner covers; Printed on apricot and cream card with additional bound-in pictorial tabs, a 4-page transformational scene of a landscape, pictorial title in colours, and 2 finely etched fairyland plates in sepia on hand-made paper with untrimmed edges and protective cobweb tissues. Issued with an accompanying bookmark printed with an owl in olive green and hand-numbered with the limitation details. 20p, 22cm. Limited edition of 100 copies.

► Very scarce. Find a copy of Fairies in Fijiland on Abes | eBay

Northern View of the Great Solar Eclipse of 2017 ‘witnessed at the sovereign state of Brandywine Cottage, Deep Cove, British Columbia’ by Charles van Sandwyk

Published by the artist, 2017

About the book: An illustrated diagram showing the travel path of the eclipse from Brandywine Cottage to Fiji (taking in Owyhee and Christmas Island). 

Hand-marbled card covers (by Waisiki Doughty) seamed with gilt, with onlaid pictorial roundel of the moon assembled from marbled blue and cream card with title in red and black and a vignette in colours; illustrations of the transit of the moon after pen-and-ink drawings; one of Brandywine Cottage; one coloured vignette of the sun; another tiny coloured pictorial label; and a full-page image of an owl at the rear, in colours; also with, bound at the centre, two pictorial roundels on coloured card recreating the eclipse and, loosely attached to the rear cover, a folding 3-panel. 16p, 17cm. Limited edition of 150 copies.

► Very scarce. Find a copy of Solar Eclipse on Abes | eBay

To: Random Thoughts, Esq by Charles van Sandwyk

Published by the artist, 2017

About the item: A cream coloured printed letter (42cm x 14cm unfolded) with 7 illustrations, describing Charles’ thoughts on pen and ink.. Folds into the shape of an envelope replicating the style of a 19th century letter, wrapped by a ribbon with a sliding wax seal (14cm x 10cm folded). Limited edition of a 125 copies of which 25 are hand-coloured by the artist. 

► Very scarce. Find a copy of Random Thoughts… at Abes | eBay

How to See Fairies by Charles van Sandwyk

Folio Society, 2018

About the book: A collection of Fairy poems and vignettes – originally printed as individual volumes by The Fairy Press – gathered together here for the first time. Includes a new Preface, and reproduces The Fairy Market, How to See Fairies, The Gnome King’s Treasure SongPocket Guide to the Little People, Afterglow, Wee Folk, and The Fairies’ Christmas

This edition features 72 integrated colour and 30 black & white illustrations. It is bound in linen-coloured blocked cloth with a printed inset paper label. Set in Caslon with printed endpapers and a red decorative slipcase. 128 pages plus a 3 page fold-out. 10″ x 6¾”.

Published in series with the FS edition of Mr Rabbit’s Symphony of Nature and Other Tails. Limitation unknown (in print).

Initial release price £39.95.

► Look for a copy at the Folio Society | Abes | eBay

Here Follows A Collection of Little People Common to the Natural Forest (‘the enlarged edition’) by Charles van Sandwyk

CVS Fine Arts, 2018

About the book: An imagining of inhabitants of the fairy realm, featuring a  reproduction of the ‘enlarged edition’ of the panoramic chapbook that  first appeared in Letters From Fairyland, folded in a small pocket. 

Original marbled covers over brown card with a metallic copper finish, with pictorial label laid on to upper panel, hand-stitched to spine; 3 exquisite illustrations (2 in colours and one series in sepia) together with a 6-leaf accordion-folded panorama of 11 fairy folk in full colour within a tipped-in marbled card pocket affixed to one page, with calligraphy throughout. 

4p, 22cm. There are also a few copies in a more rare wrapper which is fully illustrated on the front cover rather than using marbled covers.

► Find a copy of Collection of Little People on Abes | eBay

Splendid Crow: Life is Art; Art is Life (a.k.a. A Field Guide to Decent Humans) by Charles van Sandwyk

CVS Fine Arts, 2018

About the book: A fold-out triptych, declaring declaring that “Life Is Art”; “Art is Life” and “From the Roots of Wisdom Grow the Trees of Knowledge”

Created from a single sheet of cardstock, folded to make 6 pages, sewn into paper covers. Colour illustration tipped-on to the front cover, three tipped-on colour illustrations to the inner triptych, as well as black and bronze illustrations throughout. 

Some variants have bronze wraps, some have black, string and paper bindings also vary. A limited collection of 20 string-bound sets containing all 4 variants was also released.

► Scarce. Find a copy of Life is Art at Abes | eBay

A Conversation With Old St Nick at the North Pole by Charles van Sandwyk

Published by the author, 2018

About the book: A whimsical conversation with Old St. Nick.

A small business card for “Fr. Christmas, Esq.” is tucked into a marbled paper envelope that has been tipped-on to the third page. A fold-out illustrative map of the North Pole and coloured illustrations throughout.

8pp, 23 cm.

► Scarce. Find a copy of Old St Nick at AbeseBay

Little Folk by Charles van Sandwyk

CVS Fine Arts, 2018

About the book:  An adorable collection of little folk “drawn from memory at Brandywine Cottage, Autumn, 2018”. 

This accordion book consists of a single signature, with hand-drawn, hand-coloured illustrations. Sewn into marbled paper covers. 

8 unnumbered leaves, 20cm. Between 3 and 5 copies, each unique with hand-drawn images and calligraphy.

Days are a Dream by Charles van Sandwyk

Published by the artist, 2018

About the book: An excerpt from Charles’ Fiji diary.

…it is as close as I can get right now to my beloved Fiji Islands which I miss terribly. “

Manuscript book consisting of a single signature of text, followed by a single sheet folded accordion-style with 3 etchings. Sewn together and bound in gold cloth. Gilt accents.

14p, 20cm. Produced in master copy, trial edition and special edition (below).

Days are a Dream by Charles van Sandwyk

Published by the artist, 2019

About the book: A reproduction of pages from Charles’ Fiji diary of 2012. 

A manuscript book consisting of a single signature of text, followed by an etching. Sewn together and bound in illustrated card covers. Available in two states – with an etching on the cover

14p, 20cm. 30 copies (*estimate from numbered etching).

Eight Literary Companions by Charles van Sandwyk

CVS Fine Arts, 2018

About the book: Consists of a single signature containing 8 etchings and some handwritten text. Each etching has a small amount of gilt decoration. 

The companions include the Literary Crow; The Spirit of Etching; Bee, book and candle; Hedgehog scribe; Literary Lion; Literary Mouse; Creativity rests; and Tree scribe.

Bound in gold-coloured cloth, with endpapers marbled by Waisiki Doughty. 12 unnumbered leaves, 8 illustrations, 26 cm. Limited edition of 10 copies, printed, lettered, hand-decorated and bound by the artist.

Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, illustrated by Charles van Sandwyk

Folio Society, 2018 [new edition]

About the book: This new edition includes many of the same design details as the limited edition, plus a series of additional newly coloured illustrations.

This edition features 37 integrated colour illustrations and 44 black & white illustrations. It also has new printed endpapers featuring a hand-drawn map. Bound in red blocked cloth with an inset printed pictorial label. The dark green slipcase also features a gilt patterned design by the artist. 168 pp. 10×6¾ in.

Limitation unknown (in print). 

Look for a copy at the Folio Society | Abes | eBay

2020s

Mr Rabbit’s Symphony of Nature and Other Tails by Charles van Sandwyk

Folio Society, 2020

About the book: This new volume is a compendium of various nature stories and poems that were previously privately published by the illustrator, including Mr Rabbit’s Symphony of Nature, Full Moon Eyes, Neighbourly Birds, Canadian Content, and Mr Rabbit’s Christmas WishMany of the illustrations are newly drawn for this edition, including a six-page illustrated foldout of the wise old owl, and an insightful new preface by Mr Rabbit himself.

This edition features 61 colour illustrations, 20 line drawings and illustrative borders and page decorations throughout. It has decorative endpapers, and a printed slipcase with a design by the illustrator. Bound in dark aqua blocked cloth with an inset printed label, set in William Morris’s Golden Type. 112 pages plus 6 page fold out. 10˝ x 6¾˝.

Published in series with the FS edition of How to See FairiesLimitation unknown (in print).

Look for a copy at the Folio Society | Abes | eBay

Letters from Fairyland by Charles van Sandwyk

Folio Society, 2020

About the book: This FS volume reproduces the original handmade book released in 2016. The book contains miniature envelopes filled with ephemera from Fairyland, including three letters, a cache of fairy money, and a concertina of fairy portraits, along with a tipped in leaf letter.

This new edition is in a larger format (twice the number of pages) and contains new illustrations such as His Imperial Majesty Watson Wimplewort Rex in his royal mound and a comprehensive double-page illustrated map of Fairyland.

This edition features burgundy paper binding blocked in gold lettering with an inset label, illustrated endpapers, and is presented in an illustrated gold slipcase. Printed in 4 colours throughout, 24 pages plus 12 page fold out. 9˝ x 6˝.

Release price £42.95. Limitation unknown (in print).

Look for a copy at the Folio Society | Abes | eBay

Letters from Fairyland [Limited Edition] by Charles van Sandwyk

Folio Society, 2020

About the book: A signed, numbered limited edition of the FS edition of Letters from Fairyland includes an original etching handprinted by CvS, cloth binding with three foil blockings, and foiled spiderweb endpapers. It is presented in a clamshell box lined with Swallow chevron paper.

Release price £295. Limited to 250 copies. 

Scarce. Look for a copy at Abes | eBay

Yours Truly by Charles van Sandwyk

Published by the artist, Fairy Press, 2021

About the book: This volume is one of Charles’ handmade trade editions, and it comes in four different coloured cover variants: green, fawn, burgundy and brown.

The book provides a short biography of the artist. It includes a young self-portrait, a short biography, and a four-page fold-out spread with a tipped-in booklet story titled ‘The Child Within’.

This edition features burgundy paper binding blocked in gold lettering with an inset label, illustrated endpapers, and is presented in an illustrated gold slipcase. Printed in 4 colours throughout, 24 pages plus 12 page fold out. 9˝ x 6˝.

Limitation unknown (in print).

Look for a copy at Abes | eBay

Life Is Grand by Charles van Sandwyk

Published by the artist, 2021

About the book: A limited edition publication of only 65 copies, produced with two cover variants featuring a stag beetle and a butterfly design tipped in over hand marbled paper.

This special publication contains a calligraphic manuscript with seven simple cycles to illustrate the life of a poem, filled with a sweet collection of moths, butterflies and beetles who share intriguing lifecycles.

Limitation 65 copies (two cover variants).

► Rare. Look for a copy at Abes I eBay

The Meaning of Mice (FS) by Charles van Sandwyk

Folio Society, 2021

About the book: A Folio Society reproduction of an earlier 2002 publication of the same name, with eight new vignettes added to this edition. This small volume takes readers on a whimsical journey with the ‘Painter Mouse’.

This edition is bound in blocked paper with an inset 4-colour label. It contains 20 pages, concertina folded, with 14 colour illustrations and printed endpapers.

5¾˝ x 4¼˝. Release price £19.95. Limitation unknown (in print).

Look for a copy at Folio SocietyAbes | eBay

Will o’ the Wisps – Observed, Pictured & rhymed by C.V. Sandwyk, Esq

Published by the artist, Fairy Press, 2023

About the book: This volume is one of Charles’ handmade trade editions, and revisits the fairyland creatures explored in his very limited miniature book of the same title, released in 2012.

This edition features a blue-green textured card cover with a laid-on pictorial plate surrounded by a botanical border in metallic bronze. 8 pages printed on ivory-coloured cardstock including a double-page plate, 3 coloured vignettes, 2 gatefolds that unfold for a four-page spread, and a paper pocket with a removable 3-leaf fairyland panorama. 8vo.

Limitation unknown, but “a small print run”.

Look for a copy at Abes | eBay

And a peek into some private collections...

I thought I might end here by adding a few photos here of creative ways that collectors and galleries are showcasing Charles’ beautiful handmade books. If you have a photo of your collection (any size) you’d like to share here, please drop me a line.

Beautiful Books