By Salt Marshes. by Dow, Arthur Wesley and Everett Stanley Hubbard - 1908

(Ipswich, MA): Privately Printed , 1908. One of my favorite old-time customers was artist Leonard Baskin. Every time he'd see me, he'd ask if I'd found him a copy of Arthur Wesley Dow's "By Salt Marshes?" He reckoned that, since I lived near those very marshes, I might find a copy at a yard sale for $5 and sell it to him for $10. But even back then we both knew it was a book of legendary rarity. Dow's multiple-woodblock illustrations evoke Japanese design elements, techniques for the printing of which Dow invented himself and incorporated into this work. The seven color prints in this book illustrate the poetry of his lifelong friend Everett Hubbard. The book, hand printed by Dow, was issued in an edition of about 200 copies, of which this is #86, noted by Dow in pencil on the half title, which also includes a pencil inscription by him. Bound as issued in cloth over boards, front board illustrated with woodblock printing and image by Dow. Front cover tanned at edges, contents in fine condition. Dow signed and dated most known copies of this book, but I know of no other copies inscribed by him, as this one is, to "Miss Pike, with Christmas wishes, from Arthur W. Dow. 1908.". 23.5 cm. (32) pp. Seven color wood block prints, plus title, colophon, endpaper, and head- and tailpiece vignettes.