The Gehenna Press: Northampton, MA 1963 Limited edition to 300 numbered copies, this is #22. Not to be confused with the subsequent unnumbered trade edition. Colophon illustrated by Press Founder Leonard Baskin. A presentation copy from Baskin, signed and inscribed "for Louis"
Though not certain, it seems likely that the recipient is Baskin's close friend Louis Smith. Smith (known as Smitty) ran a framing, glazing and art supply store in Northampton, and between 1955 and 1974, Baskin engraved a series of rooster illustrations for Smith's shop. In 1999, this series was printed under the title "Smitty's Cocks" in a limited signed edition, noting "The friendship between the Smiths and Baskin was legendary and fruitful These special labels adorned the letterheads, bill heads and backs of pictures framed at Smith Glass & Mirror". Illustrator Barry Moser also credits Smith with introducing him to Baskin, a collaboration that would inspire Moser to found the Pennyroyal Press.
31 pp, brown cloth spine with paper labels. Slight edgewear to marbled paper covered boards, otherwise a fine copy in very good slipcase with marbled paper covered boards worn around edges, spine starting to split.