Robert J. Desmarais – författare

Published to accompany a 2008 exhibit at the University of Alberta's Bruce Peel Special Collections Library, this catalogue explores one of the great British private presses and its contribution to the fine press movement. While the sixty books in the catalogue represent barely a quarter of Golden Cockerel's total output, the selection shows how the Press expressed its individuality and continued a tradition of fine book production against the odds. In using the words "endurance" and "distinction" in the title, the curator endeavoured to capture the resilience of the Press and the determination of its various owners to achieve an ideal. A great proportion of Cockerels were illustrated works, and many feature nude engravings, which were a further expression of the owners' ideas about bookmaking. The owners were not afraid to exercise their own tastes in the selection of designs and materials, and the enduring erotic theme increased the popularity of Cockerels with collectors.

Arctic exploration has long captured the interest and imagination of explorers, nations, and the public. For more than 400 years, European explorers were lured to the Arctic to try to discover a commercial trading route to the Far East, where gold, spices, silk, and other valuable goods were readily available. Expeditions failed to locate the elusive Northwest Passage because virtually nothing was known about the Arctic Archipelago. Early mariners believed that Arctic waters were not frozen for the entire year, but of course it was a false hope that summer months offered safe passage. The cold was always extreme, and tiny wooden vessels were easily crushed against soaring icebergs and ice-choked channels. This exhibit catalogue, published to accompany a 2008 exhibit at the University of Alberta's Bruce Peel Special Collections Library, showcases a selection of books and maps documenting this perilous endeavour.

Randolph Caldecott (1846-1886) was a pioneer in the way he charmed his young readers with an innovative and engaging aesthetic approach to the picture book genre. In celebration of this remarkable achievement, Desmarais offers a convincing account of how Caldecott established a new standard of taste in children's picture books. The featured books are from the author's personal collection.