2021 Rare Signed First Edition - Yours Truly, Biography of Charles van Sandwyk
A charming signed First Edition by Charles van Sandwyk, beautifully produced by The Fairy Press and filled with autobiographical reflections, calligraphic text, and enchanting full colour illustrations.
Author: Charles van Sandwyk.
Title: Yours Truly.
Publisher: North Vancouver, BC, The Fairy Press, 2021.
Edition: First Edition. Signed by Charles van Sandwyk.
Language: English.
Pages: Unpaginated.
Size: 6.5 x 5 inches.
Binding: Fine original stiff card covers, sewn as issued, in a pale blue green variant, with a decorative front cover featuring a central colour illustration of a sailboat nestled in a bird’s nest within an ornate wood and vine border; rear cover printed with The Fairy Press device. A beautiful and well preserved copy. Protected in a removable mylar cover.
Content: Fine. Bright, tight, and clean throughout, signed in ink by Charles van Sandwyk on the front inside cover, as shown.
Illustrations: Illustrated throughout by the author, including a self portrait frontispiece, richly detailed full colour scenes of fairy creatures and forest folk, hand lettered calligraphic text, and a lovely fold out illustrated spread.
Estimate: USD 250–350.
The book:
Yours Truly is a deeply personal and exquisitely crafted artist’s book in which Charles van Sandwyk offers readers a glimpse into his life, imagination, and artistic philosophy. Part memoir, part meditation on creativity, and part fairy tale object, the book combines biographical text with van Sandwyk’s distinctive imagery and elegant design. Particularly appealing are the charming self referential elements, including the signed opening leaf, the portrait frontispiece, and the enchanting scenes peopled with fairies, animals, and the whimsical inhabitants of the Fairy Press.
Produced in van Sandwyk’s unmistakable handmade style, this small volume is both intimate and collectible. The decorative covers, textured paper, calligraphic fold out spread, and finely printed illustrations give the work the character of a miniature private press treasure. It is an especially appealing example for collectors of contemporary fine press, book arts, and van Sandwyk’s magical world.
The author:
Charles van Sandwyk, born in South Africa in 1966 and later settled in British Columbia, is one of Canada’s most beloved contemporary illustrators, writers, and private press bookmakers. His work draws inspiration from fairy tales, natural history, folklore, and the great traditions of book illustration, while remaining wholly his own in spirit and execution. Through The Fairy Press and Charles van Sandwyk Fine Arts, he has created a body of work admired for its craftsmanship, warmth, and imaginative charm.
Van Sandwyk is also widely known for his collaborations with The Folio Society and for his luminous depictions of woodland beings, anthropomorphic animals, and fantastical realms. His books, often produced in small numbers and with considerable attention to materials and design, have earned a devoted international following among collectors of illustrated books and fine press publications.