It's Fine Press Friday!
This week we present another book from the estate of the late Dennis Bayuzick: Powerdog, a children’s story based on a public television documentary explaining the importance of horses for the Dakota-Nakota-Lakota people. The book was written and printed by Polly B. Johnson at her Press of the Unseen Unicorn in San Antonio, Texas, in an edition of 50 copies.
The book explains the mythical origin of horses according to the aforementioned Native American people. Their word for horse translates into “something like 'power-dog'” according to the author. The story tells of the people who were forced to kill their dog companions to eat due to a lack of food in the harsh winter, and how a boy begged the Great Holy Spirit to prevent his dog from becoming food. When he awoke, his dog was transformed into a horse that helped him herd buffalo back to his home and end the practice of eating dogs.
The edition was printed on Masa paper using the Verona type with reduction linocut illustrations. The cover is made of Larroque Mouchette paper with flecks of paper pulp.
View other books from the collection of Dennis Bayuzick.
View more Fine Press Friday Posts.
– Sarah S., Special Collections Graduate Intern
