Description

A small collection of articles and booklets related to the Bandar-Log Press, founded by Chicago artist John Francis (Frank) Holme, who also formed the Palette and Chisel Club and School of Illustration in Chicago. The small Arizona press had a remarkable following considering its short duration and limited output, with shareholders such as Mark Twain and the Leyendecker brothers. George Ade wrote some of the books and Wizard of Oz artist W W Denslow was a friend and on the Board of Directors. The press was named after the monkey people) in Kipling’s “Jungle Book”, and produced only 9 extremely scarce works (including the Poker Rubaiyat, for which the plates were destroyed) before Holme’s demise of tuberculosis in 1904.

The collection is poised for research on the press and includes:

Three short booklets by Edwin B Hill (Ysleta):

Just For Fun, The Bandar Log Press (a 3 pg bibliographic description of this book, 1944); F. H. (3 pages of musings about Holme, 1935), Founder of the Bandar Log Club (8 pages on the founder from a 1904 Denver Post, 1936). Two booklets in near fine condition, abrasion to top corner of F. H. which is very good.

with The Colophon, Autumn 1935, with 10 page article and checklist on the press published just before his death (staining to covers).

And Arizona Highways, Jan 1968, 6 page article on the Press, including a two-page color spread of the Poker Rubaiyat (shown in featured image). This article is especially comprehensive and interesting, with quotes such as “Frank Holme’s work caught the spirit of a time, the 1890’s. He did not think in terms of the future, only of the task at hand. Some called him a genius.”

And The Book-Lover, Vol V, No 6, June 1904, 3 page article with photos and woodcut reproductions. Reading copy: paper spine gone but still bound, cover starting to detach, water staining to gutter. Cover also by Denslow.