In Memoriam
Richard-Gabriel Rummonds
1931–2024
Publisher Mark E. Fischer and late Publisher Emeritus Gabriel Rummonds relaunched Plain Wrapper Press in 2021. Sadly, Rummonds passed away on Friday, August 23, 2024, at age 93. Over the past three years, however, he had worked tirelessly to revive the press, which will continue to publish fine-press editions in the tradition that he established over 50 years ago.
The newest edition is Uncle Umberto’s Orchard, a short story by four-time Pushcart Prize-winner Frederic Tuten, with two multi-color screenprints developed by Gary Lichtenstein based on original paintings by Tuten. Custom handmade paper by Papeterie Saint-Armand. Design by Gabriel Rummonds. Both a standard and a special edition are available.
Standard $700.00 (in a slipcase)
Special $1,100.00 (in a box, with a third screenprint)
Declaration of Sentiments is a 175th-anniversary re-publication of the fiery manifesto that emerged from the 1848 women’s rights convention in Seneca Falls, New York. Two high-impact, three-color images by Susan Lowdermilk, and a new introduction by Carnegie Mellon’s Lisa Tetrault, Ph.D.
$390.00
The Kallima Butterfly, three poems and a photogravure by John D. Wagner, was published last year. Both editions printed letterpress on handmade Velké Losiny paper by Sandy Tilcock. Handbound by Jace Graf at Cloverleaf Studio. Design and calligraphy by Jerry Kelly.
$180.00
Pilgrims & Guests by Ruth Lilly Award-winner W.S. Di Piero will be published later next year. Twelve poems, with four watercolor illustrations by Fulvio Testa. Design by Gabriel Rummonds.
Also in the works for next year is the bilingual CELLINI: Casting The Perseus/La fusione del Perseo by Benvenuto Cellini, with a new introduction by Professor Michael Cole of Columbia University. Photography by Guggenheim Fellow Robert Mahon. Design by Gabriel Rummonds.
On March 1, 2022, the publishers and book designer Jerry Kelly spoke to The Grolier Club about the Plain Wrapper Press relaunch. Link to video.