L E D A ' S D A U G H T E R
b y H E L E N S H A W
with a Foreword by Riemke Ensing
and decorations by Vanya Lowry. 1996
Included in the materials passed on from The Griffin
Press was standing type for two books by Helen Shaw,
Leda's Daughter and On a Dark Mirror. Leda's
Daughter is among Shaw's last writings, and was
published in 50 copies in the year of her death, 1985.
The poem sequence reflects on the legendary origins of
the poet's name. Born from the union of Leda and a swan
whose form the God Zeus had assumed, Leda's daughter was
Helen of Troy. In this book three new illustrations by
Vanya Lowry originally intended for the Griffin edition
have been added, and a new cover incorporating the image
of a sprig of cypress picked by Helen Shaw from the
garden of Katherine Mansfield's villa in Menton, France,
and sent to her friend Riemke Ensing in New Zealand.
This edition is redesigned, printed and bound by Alan
Loney. The title-page, contents page, and the poems are
printed from 12pt Monotype Garamond found standing at
the Griffin Press. The rest of the type, 10pt Granjon,
is set Linotype by John Denny at Puriri Press, Auckland.
Paper is Mohawk Superfine, with endpapers and cover
papers Canson MiTeintes, and the binding quarter cloth
with paper-covered boards. Illustrations are printed
from zinc blocks from the Griffin Press, and the new
illustrations plus the cover figure are from
photopolymer plates made by Andrew Fell. Format:
160x105mm, 23 pages. Edition: 75 hand-numbered copies.
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