Description

Poisonous Plants at Table and Prudence: The Cautionary Tale of a Picky Eater

This most unusual book incorporates selections from Poisonous Plants In Field and Garden by the Reverend Professor G. Henslow (first published in 1901), with “Poisonous Plants at Table” (selected menus and recommendations) by Dr. E. Coffin; and features “Prudence: The Cautionary Tale of a Picky Eater,” a short story written and illustrated by Audrey Niffenegger.

It’s really three books in one: first is the serious field guide, with illustrations of plants discussed, taken mostly from Bentham’s Handbook of British Flora, which used blocks by Walter Hood Fitch. Second is the set of four tongue-in-cheek seasonal party menus, each dish including a poisonous plant and giving a cross-reference to Henslow. Last, but hardly least, is the original short story of Prudence. Niffenegger wrote the story and illustrated it with both ink drawings and watercolors. The four watercolors appear on 3-panel foldouts. Each of the four sections with story and menu is set off from the field guide by a wraparound of green Kosu Momi paper.

The book was designed by Trisha Hammer. It was set in Monotype Gill Sans and Joanna by Michael and Winifred Bixler, letterpress printed in two colors by Martha Chiplis on Mohawk Superfine and handmade Twinrocker, with the color illustrations giclée printed on specially coated handmade paper. A Japanese fabric-covered case drops away to expose the sewing and non-adhesive binding. A back pocket houses the text block while a front pocket houses a plant collection sleeve containing pressed Colchicum blossoms. The whole thing is contained in a box covered in the same fabric. 104 pp, 5⅜” x 9¼” x 2″, edition of 75. It was published in 2006, signed by the artist and bookmakers.

From the colophon:

Poisonous Plants at Table incorporates selections from Poisonous Plants in Field and Garden by the Reverend Professor G. Henslow, with selected menus and recommendations by the fictitious Dr. E. Coffin, the alias of Trisha Hammer, and features Prudence: The Cautionary Tale of a Picky Eater, written and illustrated by Audrey Niffenegger.

Design and binding by Trisha Hammer, letterpress printing by Martha Chiplis, and Giclee color printing by Bob McCamant, all of Sherwin Beach Press, Chicago. Set in Monotype Gill Sans and Joanna by Michael and Winifred Bixler of Skaneateles, New York. Papers are Mohawk Superfine; a specially coated paper developed by Twinrocker Handmade Paper of Brookston, Indiana; Thiebierge & Comar Chromatica; and Kozo Momi.

Copies are numbered and signed by Audrey Niffenegger, Trisha Hammer, Martha Chiplis, and Robert McCamant.