[MINIATURE ARTIST'S BOOK]. Boxing the Compass (North, South, East, West)

San Francisco: Juniper Von Phitzer, 1996. First Edition. Very good. Box assemblage (approximately 2.5" x 2.25" x 2.25"), with 4 side-panels that open flat. In the center is a working compass, and 4 small booklets for each the four points of the compass. Trifle wear to box lid; small scratch to outside of the "West" panel; the "limitation" statement inside lid has small black marks offset from the top edges of the panels below. WITH TEXTS FROM THE PLAINS INDIAN POWER WHEEL.

Miniature artist's book, limited to just 24 copies, uniquely designed to comprise four small booklets, one for each direction of the compass (North, South, East, and West). Each booklet measures 2" x 1.75" and are mounted to sturdy black cardboard. In the center of the assemblage is an actual working compass in middle. The four black side-panels fold up into box which closes when the box lid is affixed. When completely unfolded, the assemblage measures approxiately 7" x 7."

A review of the work from the "Microbibliophile" (January, 2015):

"Boxing The Compass is a unique book in that it is actually a 'box' which, when the lid is removed, the four sides fold down to reveal four small books, one attached to each 'side of the box.' In the bottom of the box is affixed a small working compass. The 'box' is reminiscent of the type of wooden box that an actual nautical compass would have been stored in on early vessels. This box is made of a cardboard stock and covered with some flat black paper. The flat back paper was certainly a good choice for the box as it allows the small compass and the four 'silver covered' attached miniature books to visually 'jump' at you. The box itself is about a 2 1/8" cube when closed and when the 'hat box' lid is removed the four sides of the box 2" x 1 3/4" lay flat, allowing the readers to read each of the miniature books. The 'box top' also carries the title with is displayed is a 'reflective red ink.' The first book 'North' is presented with a 'compass rose' illustration as the frontispiece. The text is short but meaningful; 'Introducing NORTH from the Plains Indian Power Wheel. Shake hands with the North, but wear you warmest gloves. The NORTH is white and the beginning place of wisdom... Shake hands with the North sincerely, but move on to meet the East.' [...] Each book contains one illustration with the text pages and the rear cover carries another but different 'compass rose'than is used for each frontispiece." (SOURCE: "Microbibliophile," vol. XXXIV, no. 1, issue 193).

Our copy is No. 19 of 24, initialed by Marvin R. Hiemstra inside box top.