Ancient Mariner - from the colophon

Ancient Mariner has been made as a limited edition of thirty-nine copies over the winter and spring of 2009. The essay by Roger Angell has been set in 18 pt Times New Roman, and was printed letterpress by Les Ferriss in Healdsburg, California. The maritime charts of Maine used in the book have been reproduced from old charts once used by Roger Angell, particularly Chart 13313, “Approaches to Blue Hill Bay.” The images by Charles Hobson are monotypes with pastel and have been reproduced as high resolution digital prints on an Epson 2200. The overhead view of the islands are based on those provided by Google Earth, Version 4.2. The model sails and rigging roughly suggest* those of the gaff-rigged Herreshoff 12 1/2. John DeMerritt, Emeryville, California, made the binding and case. The edition was designed and assembled by Charles Hobson with
the assistance of Alice Shaw.

The book is a large format accordion with the pages measuring 15 x 11 inches. It is bound in boards covered with reproductions of the charts used by the author and is contained in a slipcase covered in canvas to emulate sailcloth.

            Roger Angell, the distinguished senior editor at The New Yorker magazine, is best known outside the magazine for his writings about baseball. However, his memoir Ancient Mariner about sailing in Maine displays his ability to use language elegantly and precisely while conveying vivid images of his experiences of more that sixty years.\

            The title page features a fold-out chart which opens to reveal  “the sweet cove next to Devil’s Head, on Hog,” and an image of the islands made as a monotype with pastel based on details taken from Google Earth, Version 4.2.

Roger Angell considers the jargon of sailing and a jib sail can be lifted to provide an additional take on the subject. In order to read the final page the reader must actually jibe the mainsail.

$2750

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