This handsome volume, measuring 33.0cm by 21.9cm, was printed on a hand-fed cylinder press using French mould-made, deckle edged, acid free Lana Verge Antique rag paper.

The manuscript was set in the Caslon Old Face type. The 72 french fold pages are hand sewn on tapes and bound in acid-free boards.

Each of Ray Cattell’s 100 different cover paintings are acrylic on canvas.

The book is presented in a drop down Solander box wrapped in Ontario buckram.

Fifty years ago, the late George Woodcock wrote this play about the universal passions of Doubt, Discord and Regret.

First appearing as a CBC Radio play The Island of Demons is not an historical play that renders an actual incident or situation from the past. It is a dramatic poem emerging from a Canadian legend. The legend appears in at least two fairly divergent forms . . . the more sensational of the two is recorded by the French cosmographer André Thévet, who wrote in 1575 of an island off the coast of Newfoundland feared by the early voyageurs said to be inhabited by demons.

It was to this island that the Sieur de Roberval came

on his expedition to Canada in 1542. His niece, Marguerite, was sailing with him and had somewhat indiscreetly favoured a young man who had also embarked on the ship. Roberval was furious at the couple and landed Marguerite (now with child), her lover and her nurse Marie on the shore of the island. The castaways found themselves at the mercy of the island’s demons.

Physical hardships wore away at the little company, first the lover died, then the child, and finally the nurse. Marguerite was left to struggle alone, spiritually against the demons and with Roberval’s muskets against the wild beasts. It was two years and five months since Roberval had marooned her.

Canadian painter Ray Cattell has brought visual life to the play by producing 15 different images consisting of line engravings, lino-cuts, polymer plates and lithographs (12 of them), one of them in 5 colors.

In addition, each cover of the 100 copies has a different acrylic on canvas painting by Ray Cattell.

As Mr. Cattell wrote in the book:
“My many thoughts and revisits to the story of the legend prompted me to suggest that each cover of the book be a different original painting: an opportunity to try to visually resolve the story’s abstract location and its inhabitants . . . 100 times.”

Copies of The Island of Demons are in the rare book collections of Her late Majesty, The Queen Mother Elizabeth, The Vatican Library, University of British Columbia, University of Alberta, Thomas Fischer Rare Book Library at the University of Toronto, National Library of Canada, The Robert McLaughlin Gallery, Preston Burke Gallery (MI) and some 20 plus private collectors

The Island of Demons
will prove to be a valuable acquisition to those interested in Canadiana and to those who appreciate the fine art of typography and bookmaking.

Since each cover is a different painting there will be only one book of its kind in the world.

It is offered with your choice of cover, at a price of $3000.00 (CDN FUNDS-PLUS GST WHERE APPLICABLE)

A poster (suitable for framing) showing all 100 paintings is available at a cost of $ 12.00 (postage & GST included).

Send for our free prospectus.

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