2009 Rare Signed Book - Canadian Content by Charles van Sandwyk
A beautiful signed and limited 2009 edition of Canadian Content by Charles van Sandwyk, featuring his enchanting illustrations of Canadian wildlife and landscapes, presented in its attractive original pictorial wrappers with a charming folded introduction by Waisiki Doughty.
Author: Charles van Sandwyk and Waisiki Doughty. Written and illustrated by Charles van Sandwyk, with an introduction by Waisiki Doughty.
Title: Canadian Content.
Publisher: North Vancouver, British Columbia: Charles van Sandwyk Fine Arts, 2009.
Edition: First limited edition of 2,500 copies. Signed by Charles van Sandwyk on the final page.
Language: English.
Pages: Unpaginated (approximately 21 pages).
Size: 10 x 7 inches.
Binding: Near fine original pictorial red wrappers, beautifully decorated with an illustration of a bear holding a freshly caught salmon, surrounded by an ornamental border of pine branches and cones. Hand-stitched binding with folding flaps and illustrated endpapers featuring migrating Canada geese. Very light signs of handling, as shown. An exceptionally attractive and well-preserved example. Protected in a removable mylar cover.
Content: Fine content, bright, clean and beautifully preserved. Signed by Charles van Sandwyk on the final page. Includes the original folded introduction by Waisiki Doughty, presented as a separate insert, together with the decorative postal-themed insert inside the front cover.
Illustrations: Complete with Charles van Sandwyk's delightful colour illustrations and finely executed pen-and-ink drawings, featuring Canadian wildlife and landscapes, including bears, salmon, loons, beavers, moose, raccoons, cougars and Canada geese. The illustrations are complemented by elegant handwritten-style calligraphy and decorative borders.
Estimate: $225–250 USD.
The book: Canadian Content, published in 2009, is a charming and beautifully produced celebration of Canada's natural landscapes and wildlife by the acclaimed artist and illustrator Charles van Sandwyk. Conceived as a poetic tribute to the country and its remarkable wilderness, the work brings together delicate verse, expressive animal portraits and richly imaginative compositions. From salmon swimming beneath the waters of a northern lake to bears, beavers, cougars and moose inhabiting the forests and mountains, each page conveys van Sandwyk's affection for the natural world and his distinctive sense of wonder.
This delightful artist's book is particularly appealing for its careful attention to every aspect of its presentation. The richly coloured pictorial wrappers, hand-stitched construction, illustrated folding flaps, decorative calligraphy and beautifully printed illustrations create an intimate and highly collectible production. The accompanying folded introduction by Waisiki Doughty adds a personal dimension, reflecting on his friendship with van Sandwyk and their shared appreciation of Canada's landscapes and people. Limited to 2,500 copies and signed by the artist, Canadian Content is a particularly attractive example of van Sandwyk's independent fine press publications.
The author and illustrator: Charles van Sandwyk (born 1966) is a Canadian artist, writer and illustrator internationally admired for his whimsical watercolours, exquisite pen-and-ink drawings and beautifully crafted books. Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, he moved to Canada as a child and developed an artistic style inspired by the great illustrators of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. His imaginative world is populated by animals, fairies, woodland creatures and gentle eccentricities, rendered with extraordinary delicacy and a distinctive sense of nostalgia.
Van Sandwyk's work has attracted an enthusiastic international following, particularly among collectors of illustrated books and fine press publications. In addition to his independently published works, he has illustrated celebrated editions for the Folio Society, including The Wind in the Willows and Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Dividing his time between British Columbia and Fiji, he continues to draw inspiration from the natural world, bringing an unmistakable combination of artistry, craftsmanship and quiet enchantment to his books.