Dracula; Illustrated by Rick Berry
Norwalk, CT: Easton Press, 2014. Signed Limited Edition # 69 / 1200. Deep maroon leather with six raised bands. Titling on spine in black panels and gilt rule and flourish on spine panels. Cover has titling in gilt with black and gilt border. Marbled, feathered deep red endpapers, satin ribbon bookmark still tucked in. 8.75" x 10.25", 436 pp. Signed by illustrator on colophon page in red ink. Eight color plates and a frontispiece, taken from oil paintings, tipped on to heavier weight pages, each having a protective transluscent tissue protector. Easton Press COA laid in. The prints in Dracula were taken from oil paintings combined with his signature expressionistic charcoal underdrawings. Berry is a massive historical pioneer in the digital art space. In 1984, Berry created the world’s first digitally painted book cover for William Gibson’s seminal cyberpunk novel, "Neuromancer". When you look closely at these 8 plates in Dracula, you can see his signature "alla prima" (wet-on-wet) oil technique. He isn't painting fine, tiny details with a miniature brush; he is using large, sweeping structural strokes and aggressive lighting to make the vampires and victims look like they are physically emerging directly out of a dark mist. Fine, near as new, purchased by previous owner for shelf value, not to be read. All edges gilt. / Green cloth slipcase with red textured interior. Glossy illustration on the front matches the frontispiece, bordered by gilt and black rule and flourish. Light, barely perceptible wear to slipcase top edge and rear. Item #3436
"And you, their best beloved one, are now to me, flesh of my flesh, blood of my blood, kin of my kin, my bountiful wine press for a while, and shall be later on my companion and my partner." (p 332).
Price: $850.00