Significant Collection of Arion Press Publications Comes to Smithsonian Libraries and Archives

Significant Collection of Arion Press Publications Comes to Smithsonian Libraries and Archives

Cover with authentic embedded buffalo nickel,
American Buffalo
by David Mamet, illustrated by Michael McCurdy. Arion Press, 1992
The Smithsonian Libraries and Archives is pleased to announce a significant acquisition of fine press books published by the
Arion Press
in San Francisco. Thanks to a gift from Dr. Ronnyjane Goldsmith, over a hundred titles will soon be added to the
American Art and Portrait Gallery Library.
Arion Press was founded in 1974, but tends much older roots of the former type foundries and presses it has grown from, such as the Grabhorn Press and Mackenzie & Harris. Since its inception, Arion has become one of the most sought-after and noteworthy presses in the United States.
Arion’s publications are handcrafted with fine paper, with hand-cast and handset type, each book individually bound and sewn. With this attention to detail and fine materials, each book is published in editions of only a few hundred copies, many with even smaller deluxe runs.
“Clara and baby” illustration by Kara Walker, in
Porgy and Bess
, Arion Press, 2013
A uniquely interesting aspect of Arion’s work is the collaboration with fine artists, particularly international and American artists who are not generally known for book illustration. Each book is planned and crafted with the artist making a significant contribution to the final design and production, often resulting in interesting uses of materials, bindings and housing, and wholly new illustrations. These artists include Bruce Conner, Richard Diebenkorn, Julie Mehretu, Martin Puryear, Laurie Simmons, Kiki Smith, Wayne Thiebaud, and Kara Walker—many artists whose works are collected at the
Smithsonian’s art museums
.
Illustration in
The World is Round
by Gertrude Stein, illustrated by Clement Hurd. Arion Press, 1986
Arion’s collaborations develop in myriad ways, with the publisher seeking artists and recommending texts, or authors writing new works to engage with a particular artist, or the artists themselves bringing ideas of inspiring texts to illustrate. Many of the artists who have worked with Arion have expressed their joy in the partnership. American artist
Jim Dine
noted “My association with…Arion Press is so great I want it to go on as long as I live.”
[1]
Dine has had his work incorporated in at least nine Arion publications, five of which are now in the collection of the Smithsonian Libraries and Archives.
Stitched cover of
Sampler
by Emily Dickinson, illustrated by Kiki Smith. Arion Press, 2007
The collection was donated in 2021 by author and entrepreneur Dr. Ronnyjane Goldsmith. Goldsmith began collecting Arion Press publications more than 20 years prior, when she first encountered the
Constitution of the United States of America
, Arion’s 1987 collaboration with the Library of Congress in celebration of the U.S. Bicentennial. She ultimately bought three copies of Arion’s
Constitut…