Picture Book: Jean Charlot/32 Original Lithographs (miniature edition)

Jean Charlot

Lyton Kistler, Master Printer and the original printer of the full-sized Picture Book published in 1933, decided to create this miniature version as a way to publish Jean Charlot's own words, written in 1933 as simple verse that came to him as he drew on the litho stones.

Writes Kistler in the introductory pages, "As published [in 1932], the plates were drawn by Jean Charlot and the captions written by the famed French poet, Paul Claudel. While at work on the book, the artist had also started to write unassuming commentaries for his own pictures. I have always felt these light verses should be brought to light. Hence this miniature reproduction of the original Picture Book, a collector's item, together with Charlot's own comments, up to now unpublished."

Both Charlot and Kistler oversaw the publishing of this miniature book with Dawson's Book Shop in Los Angeles, renowned for their rare book collection and for the publication of high-quality miniatures. In every way a perfect 64mo version of the original folio sized publication save for Claudel's writings, down to the binding, and with the addition of a slipcase.