In April, 2017 Richard Minsky was Artist-in-Residence at the RIT Cary Graphic Arts Collection. He printed Vermont Vigilance and other works on the same Albion handpress acquired in 1895 by William Morris for his Kelmscott Press to produce the magnificent Works of Geoffrey Chaucer. The press was brought to the USA in 1924 by artist and type designer Frederic W. Goudy. It was acquired by the Cary Collection in 2014. The Minsky residency was arranged by Dr. Steven K. Galbraith, Curator of the Cary Collection, and facilitated by Associate Curator Amelia J Hugill-Fontanel. In June, 2017 Minsky returned to print this edition of a quote from Plato's Republic, and was assisted in the presswork by Dr. Galbraith.

Above: The K-G Albion Handpress

 Ὁ Τυραννικὸς Ἀνὴρ
The Tyrant

2,377 years ago Plato wrote about the reasons democracy leads to tyranny, in Book 8 of The Republic (Πολιτεία), and in Book 9 describes the evolution and character of the tyrannical man.

This quote from Book 9 was printed on nine different papers, each numbered as a separate edition, with a total of 89 signed and numbered copies. Minsky has all the odd-numbered copies and RIT Cary Collection has all the even numbers. Every copy of the print comes with an English translation adapted by Minsky, printed by archival pigment inkjet on Rives Heavyweight paper, 10" x 13". The Greek text and the translation were reviewed and corrected by Christina Kraus, Thomas A. Thacher Professor of Latin at Yale University.

The Greek and English texts are set in Minion Pro, a digital typeface designed by Robert Slimbach in 1990. For the Greek edition a photopolymer plate was made by Boxcar Press. This was the first time a photopolymer plate was printed on the Kelmscott-Goudy Albion, a marriage of 19th and 21st century technologies. The translation is printed directly from the original computer file on an Epson R-1900 with UltraChrome ink.

William Morris would likely have approved this use of his press, particularly this year. Read about his views on art and politics. And in his own words, How I Became a Socialist. See also The William Morris Society in the United States.

SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THE VARIANTS, PRICING AND ORDERING

Below: the translation, which comes with every copy.

 
Rives BFK white, 15" x 22", edition of 23

Unwatermarked handmade paper acquired more than 30 years ago, not identified, 15½" x 21", edition of 4

Whatman handmade paper, England, 1956, with the date in the watermark, 13¾" x 16¾", edition of 12

Handmade paper produced at the Dieu Donné Papermill, New York City, to Minsky's specifications,
with MINSKY and DD watermarks, August, 1991, 18" x 23½", edition of 6

Handmade paper produced at the Dieu Donné Papermill, New York City, to Minsky's specifications,
with MINSKY and DD watermarks, about 1994, a lighter weight paper, 18" x 23½", edition of 5.

Paper handmade by Richard Minsky while artist-in residence at Ox-Bow, Saugatuck, Michigan, 1990,
working with master papermaker Richard Hungerford, 16" x 23", edition of 2.

Paper handmade by Richard Minsky while artist-in residence at Ox-Bow, Saugatuck, Michigan, 1990,
working with master papermaker Richard Hungerford, 16" x 24", edition of 3