2020 Scarce version of I Believe - Fortress on the Hill by Charles van Sandwyk

Author: Charles van Sandwyk.
Title: I Believe [Fortress on the Hill].
Publisher: North Vancouver, The High Branch Society, [n.d., circa 2020s].
Language: Text in English.
Size: 9.5" x 6.6" (24 cm x 17 cm), folded.
Pages: [4 pages, single folded sheet].
Binding: Loose in the original publisher's envelope. The card is printed on fine linen-textured, hand-made ivory paper, with deckled edges. Accompanied by the original sepia-illustrated envelope featuring an all-over fantastical design of anthropomorphic trees and woodland creatures.
Content: Fine condition. The interior presents Fortress on the Hill, a deeply moving original poem on self-worth and inner resilience. The verse is printed in facsimile calligraphy and beautifully ornamented in red and yellow. Under a protective removable mylar cover.
Illustrations: Illustrated with two full-page colored illustrations by Charles van Sandwyk—one of an owl holding a red book titled I BELIEVE, perched atop a tree growing from an open book; the other, of a wistful owl amid a mountainous landscape with a castle in the distance. Additional whimsical drawings adorn the envelope and the back panel. Van Sandwyk’s signature style—at once magical, precise, and gently humorous—shines throughout.

Estimate: (USD 100–120).

The piece: A scarce and exquisite keepsake card from Canadian illustrator Charles van Sandwyk, issued under The High Branch Society imprint. This version of I Believe (also known by its closing verse title Fortress on the Hill) offers a poignant reflection on self-acceptance, quiet courage, and identity. Combining poetry, fine illustration, and artisanal production, this collectible work blurs the line between book, art print, and personal talisman—suitable for display, gifting, or heartfelt personal reflection.

The author: Charles van Sandwyk (b. 1966) is a celebrated Canadian artist, writer, and illustrator whose imaginative world conjures Edwardian fairy tales, anthropomorphic animals, and folkloric whimsy. Deeply influenced by the golden age of illustration, van Sandwyk’s limited editions and ephemera have become sought after for their craftsmanship, sincerity, and wonder. His works are published by The Folio Society, The High Branch Society, and his own private press in British Columbia.