2018 Scarce Triptych - Splendid Crow Field Guide to Decent Humans by van Sandwyk
A scarce and enchanting first edition of Charles van Sandwyk's Splendid Crow, an exquisitely illustrated fold-out artist's booklet celebrating the inseparable beauty of art, life, wisdom, and imagination, presented in elegant black wrappers with a richly coloured pictorial cover.
Author: Charles van Sandwyk.
Title: Splendid Crow: Life Is Art; Art Is Life (also known as A Field Guide to Decent Humans).
Publisher: North Vancouver, British Columbia: Charles van Sandwyk Fine Arts, 2018.
Edition: First Edition.
Language: English.
Pages: [6] folded panels.
Size: Approximately 9 x 6 inches.
Binding: Fine black textured paper wrappers with a stitched spine, featuring a beautifully mounted colour illustration of the bespectacled Splendid Crow perched upon a branch beside a nest filled with books. The interior consists of a single folded sheet of textured cream-coloured cardstock, opening into an elaborate illustrated triptych. An attractive and exceptionally well-preserved example. Protected in a removable mylar cover.
Content: Fine condition, crisp and clean throughout, with beautifully preserved illustrations and decorative typography. No visible previous ownership marks.
Illustrations: A splendid colour illustration mounted on the front cover and three richly coloured illustrations mounted within the fold-out triptych, complemented by delicate bird, nest, scroll, and botanical vignettes printed in contrasting tones. The interior features the inscriptions Life Is Art, Art Is Life, and From the Roots of Wisdom Grow the Trees of Knowledge, together with the affectionate declaration You Truly Are a Splendid Soul.
Estimate: USD $250–300.
The book: Published in 2018 by Charles van Sandwyk Fine Arts, Splendid Crow: Life Is Art; Art Is Life is a delightful example of the artist's intimate, imaginative private publications. This beautifully conceived booklet unfolds to reveal a remarkable three-panel composition in which intricate botanical ornament, expressive calligraphy, and delicately coloured illustrations celebrate the relationship between creativity, wisdom, and the natural world. At its centre stands the splendid crow himself, wearing his characteristic spectacles and holding a quill beside a scroll bearing the tender words, For my part and on the whole—You truly are a splendid soul.
The surrounding panels develop the artist's gentle philosophy through the complementary declarations Life Is Art and Art Is Life, accompanied by illustrations of birds, nests, eggs, feathers, and flourishing trees. Particularly charming are the playful depictions of the crow as a learned naturalist, the miniature books nestled among branches, and the richly ornamented borders that frame the composition. Produced in several binding and presentation variants, this ephemeral work is especially appealing in its elegant black wrappers with mounted pictorial cover. A scarce and highly collectible example of van Sandwyk's distinctive artistry, combining the intimacy of a keepsake with the craftsmanship of a fine illustrated publication.
The author: Charles van Sandwyk (born 1966) is a South African-born Canadian artist, illustrator, writer, and private press publisher celebrated for his enchanting depictions of birds, animals, fairies, and imaginary worlds. Working in British Columbia, he has developed a distinctive artistic language inspired by the traditions of nineteenth-century book illustration, natural history, and fine printing. His delicate watercolours, intricate pen-and-ink drawings, ornamental lettering, and whimsical storytelling have earned him an enthusiastic international following.
In addition to his independent publications, van Sandwyk is widely admired for his illustrated editions produced in collaboration with the Folio Society, including works by Lewis Carroll and Rudyard Kipling. His smaller private productions, often distinguished by unusual formats, hand-finished details, and carefully considered typography, reveal the same imaginative generosity found in his larger books. Splendid Crow beautifully captures his belief that art, nature, and the written word are intimately connected, transforming a modest folded booklet into a miniature celebration of creative life.