The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

Bound by Richard Tong

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
by L. Frank Baum
Illustrated by Gregory Manchess
Artist's afterword by Gregory Manchess
Lyra's Books, Ludlow, UK, 2024
Lettered Edition - 26 Copies
170 x 240mm - 229 pages

The Lettered edition is fully bound with goatskin leathers, consisting of multiple inlaid panels to create a patchwork of greens. The design is inspired by the greens of the Emerald City as well as the journey through the woods along the yellow brick road. The greens on either side of the road suggest the shapes of the trees and the shafts of light shining through the canopy.

The leather used includes J. Hewit & Sons straight grain, Harmatan finest, Oasis Fine and Hewit's Pentland goatskins. This variety of very fine grade leathers creates a lovely selection of grains and finishes across the different panels. There is no set pattern for the positioning of the leather so each copy is slightly different.

Endpapers are stiff leaf, made from hand marbled paper by Freya Scott of Paperwilds and backed with foil blocked Napura Khepera paper.

The Lettered edition is letterpress printed on 160gsm Madrid Litho mould-made paper by Phil Abel and Robert Hetherington of Hand and Eye. Printed in black and green throughout on a Heidelberg cylinder press.

This edition is newly illustrated by award-winning oil painter Gregory Manchess. There are 22 paintings, comprising 21 full-page and one half-page colour images. This includes 4 double page spreads tipped onto tabs. All images are giclee printed by Hurtwood London and sewn into the structure of the binding.

This book comes in a full leather, rounded spine solander box with two colour foil blocking across the front, back and spine. Inside, there is a cloth covered portfolio containing 4 giclee prints and one original sketch by the artist.

You can see more of Richard's work on his web site, www.lyrasbooks.com
as well as on Facebook and Instagram @lyrasbooks.
Richard is the binder, designer and publisher of all of his books.