Library purchases Moser collection at auction
Special Collections recently purchased at auction a collection of Barry Moser’s works with funds from the Sam M. Fleming Southern Civilization Collection. Chattanooga-born Moser is best known for his award-winning work as an artist and illustrator, but he is also a printer, painter, printmaker, designer, author, essayist and teacher. Moser’s work is included in the upcoming Twain & Twang exhibit and his portrait of Mark Twain is the exhibit’s signature poster. He has more than 300 design and illustration works to his credit, most notably the Arion Press’ Moby-Dick and the University of California Press’ The Divine Comedy. His Pennyroyal Press published the Pennyroyal Caxton Bible, the only fully illustrated Bible of the 20th century. “This beautiful collection includes several original drawings and a wide array of prints as well as the extraordinary books from the Pennyroyal Press,” says Connie V. Dowell, library dean. “We are so fortunate to have these works by one of American’s finest book artists. The Pennyroyal Press is more and more often being compared to the William Morris’s Kelmscott Press and Leonard Baskin’s Gehenna Press. These books and prints will enrich exhibits and inspire students for generations to come.”
The flower images “Chrysanthemums” and “Iris Pseudacorus” by Barry Moser are from 50 Woodcut Engravings published in 1978 by Pennyroyal Press.