A7. The Maid and Her Cat

A7. Peter Papermaker. The Maid and Her Cat. Santa Cruz, California: Peter & Donna Thomas, 1979.

9 x 17 cm (3 5/8” x 6 5/8”), 12 pages, 25 copies.

Binding: Some copies are unbound pamphlet; pamphlet housed in handmade white paper box. Etching on front by Donna Millar (Thomas). Both pamphlet and box housed in a chemise case covered in marbled velveteen and tied with burgundy ribbon. Some copies are pamphlet stitched and bound into a chemise case covered in marbled velveteen; pamphlet attached to back inside cover. Etching by Donna Millar (Thomas) on white handmade paper on front inside cover. Paper: White, handmade at Hayle Mill. Printing: Letterpress. Typography: Hand set Century Schoolbook and ornamental initial; initial in blue. Illustration: One linocut by Donna Millar (Thomas).

“The text is a fairy tale I wrote. When we bought our first press from the local high school when they ceased offering letterpress printing classes, it came with a case of 14 point Century Schoolbook type. The first (and only) thing we used the type for was this story. First we set the story as a broadside, then used the same type for this book. Donna made the etching in her art class at Sonoma State College.”