Call Number:

Ms. Coll. 1401

Repository:

University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts

Extent:

1.33 linear feet (2 boxes)

Language:

English

Preferred Citation:

Jean Simpson Stephenson collection relating to Of Scandinavia, circa 1980s-1992, Ms. Coll. 1401, Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts, University of Pennsylvania

Date:

circa 1980s-1992 (inclusive)

Form:

Printing blocks (printing surfaces) and Artists' books

Abstract:

Jean Simpson Stephenson is an artist known for creating wood block prints. She graduated from the University of the Arts in 1947, and is a member of the Guild of Book Workers. This collection consists of a copy of the artist book, Of Scandinavia, and the linoleum and wood blocks that were used to print the cover art and the three color illustrations within the book.

Jean Simpson Stephenson is an artist known for creating wood block prints. She graduated from the University of the Arts in 1947, and is a member of the Guild of Book Workers. She lives in Bronxville, New York.

From 1990 to 1992, twenty-two copies of her book, Of Scandinavia, were printed. Consisting of text, cover art, and three color illustrations, Of Scandinavia was included in the 86th Anniversary Exhibition of the Guild of Book Workers, "Fine Printers, Finely Bound Too," in 1992. The exhibition catalog describes Of Scandinavia:

"This book was written, hand set, illustrated and printed on a Vandercook proof press and bound by Jean Stephenson. The text is set in 18 point Weiss Bold and printed on Somerset Satin mould made paper. The illustrations were printed from separate linoleum blocks. The book was printed in the winter of 1990-1992 and the cover art was printed in the spring of 1992 at the Center for Book Arts in New York." (https://guildofbookworkers.org/sites/guildofbookworkers.org/files/exhibits/Fine_Printers_Finely_Bound_Too.pdf)

This collection consists of a copy of the artist book, Of Scandinavia, and the linoleum and wood blocks that were used to print the cover art and the three color illustrations within the book. Each illustration in the volume was printed using three to five colors, and therefore, three to five separate blocks. The blocks have been arranged by print.