Trying to Save Piggy Sneed by John Irving (b. 1942) - 2005

Las Vegas, NV: Rainmaker Editions, 2005. Limited Edition. Hardcover. Like New. Gilbert Neri. Signed. LIMITED EDITION of 125 copies, this is number 40 of 99 numbered copies (the edition included 26 lettered copies), SIGNED by John Irving and Gilbert Neri on a scrap leaf bound-in at the colophon. This "project required the collaborative efforts of many people across the country. The book was designed and printed by Inge Bruggeman at Textura Letterpress in Portland, Oregon. She letterpress printed the edition on Somerset Book paper, from 14 pt. Joanna monotype cast by the Bixlers in Skaneateles, New York. In Monterey, California, Gilbert Neri created the imagery for the book by placing heated elements on fax paper. These digitized images were then made into photopolymer plates and printed by Inge in Portland. Ann Marie Kennedy made the cover, end-sheet, and 'scrap' papers by hand in her studio in Carrboro, North Carolina. The binding, designed by Anna Embree and Inge, was executed by Anna in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Finally, back in Portland, Inge made the boxes with the production assistance of Rachel Wiecking." Colophon. 4to. 10 x 7 5/8 inches. Unpaginated. [38] pp. Rainmaker Editions printer's device opposite the title page, title page with pig vignette in brown ink, 5 illustrations included in the pagination (2 of which are double-page), "scrap" papers bound-in, Rainmaker Editions printer's mark on colophon; text clean, unmarked. Vellum spine with tabs and stitching exposed, paper over boards (front cover with printed title, exposed "scrap" paper tabs on front and rear covers, special end sheets made by Ann Marie Kennedy; binding square and tight. Housed in a special box with a double-folding top cover for the clamshell case, covered with multi-colored book cloth, and a printed paper spine label. SIGNED by the author and the illustrator on a scrap leaf bound-in at the colophon. Fine. John Irving first published Trying to Save Piggy Sneed in 1996 (Arcade Publishing) featuring "twelve writing pieces divided into three sections: Memoirs, Fiction, and Homage." This artists' book produced by Rainmaker Editions contains the memoir "Trying to Save Piggy Snead", a short story from this larger collection. It is in keeping with the Rainmaker Editions tradition of selecting the writings of the most important contemporary authors and giving them outstanding treatment in the presentation of design, printing, and materials. Gilbert Neri is currently Professor of New Genre at Mira Costa College, Oceanside, California. "John Irving is an American novelist and screenwriter. Irving achieved critical and popular acclaim after the international success of The World According to Garp in 1978. Many of Irving's novels, including The Cider House Rules (1985), A Prayer for Owen Meany (1989), and A Widow for One Year (1998) have been bestsellers." Wikipedia.