It’s Fine Press Friday!
We end the week with a fine press printing based on a medieval legend, Robert the Devil, translated by the American poet W. S. Merwin from an anonymous 14th-century French play. The book was published in 1981 with original wood engravings in a late 15th-century style by Roxanne Sexauer and printed by the legendary Kim Merker at his Windhover Press in Iowa City in Dante and Bembo Italic types on handmade Windhover paper in an edition of 310 copies.
The legend of Robert the Devil had its origins in 13th-century France, which served as the basis for many literary and dramatic works, including the 14th-century miracle play that Merwin’s translation is based on. The story is about a Norman knight who discovers he is the son of Satan through a deal his mother struck with the devil. His corrupt origin leads him to a sinful life, but he eventually overcomes his inheritance to achieve repentance.
Originally, the Windhover edition included 35 copies hand colored by the artist. Our copy, which is another gift from our friend and benefactor Jerry Buff, includes a printed errata sheet that notes the number of hand-colored copies increased to 50. At the time, Sexauer was still a BFA student at the University of Iowa, and at the end of print run Merker did not have enough money to pay the artist for her work, so he increased the number of copies with hand-colored prints and sold these copies at a greater price in order to equitably compensate Sexauer for the work she contributed.
View our other posts of works by the Windhover Press.
View more Fine Press Friday posts.