- New York : Mayflower Books (1979)
- 4to.
- cloth, dust jacket.
- 220 pages.
- Order Nr. 30135
- Price: $ 25.00

Printed in an edition limited to 65 numbered sets, this is one of 20 which includes an original watercolor. John S. O'Connor (1913-2004) was a student of Eric Ravilious, John Nash and others at the Royal Academy of Art in the mid-30s. His own works began to appear in the late 30's, in the publications of the Golden Cockerell Press. Since that time, Mr. O'Connor has produced paintings, watercolors, lithographs, and engravings in various media. Peppin and Micklethwait (Dictionary of British Book Illustrators, 1983, p.218) describe his wood engravings as "strikingly decorative in the tradition of Eric Ravilious, with tonal and textural contrast achieved through a wide variety of tooling." Hamilton (c1890-1990, 1994, p.150) characterizes O'Connor's landscape work as containing "strong edges, deep shadows and dramatic contrasts of light and dark" which gives "a sense of rhythm and pattern to the image." Garrett (History of British Wood Engraving, 1978, p.222) regards O'Connor's engraving style as in the "Ravilious manner," which he has aptly described (p.221) as "illustrative, decorative and dominated by intricate pattern and texture." In his introduction to this set, Mr. O'Connor discusses his interest in Shakespeare's The Tempest and provides the rationale for these engravings: "I like to consider the years previous to the brief action of the play. The "sprite" close to his master and to Miranda the child: and I suggest the boy and girl would have enjoyed each other's company in the manner of brother and sister. He would be a little wild; she enclosed in that strangely mature innocence that is written into Miranda. Shy at first, the two children would play in streams, collect herbs..." etc. There are nine illustrations: the seven signed and numbered (with regard to copy) engravings, a similarly signed watercolor on the same theme but not precisely copying any of the engravings, and a small (3x4 in.) unsigned engraving affixed to the front of the clamshell case. Figures (Ariel and Miranda, or Ariel alone) are variously posed, each partially outlined by a pure white area roughly approximating their forms. Two prints are in black, yellow, and white; the rest are black-and-white. Sizes (other than the case illustration) are roughly 4x6 or 6x8 inches. Cutouts in the fronts of the folders frame the pictures when the folders are closed. Accompanied by a folded folio sheet with title and Mr. O'Connor's introduction and signed by the artist (verso of the title page), with the annotation "92," presumably the date of publication. The interior lining of the clamshell case is printed with a repeated motif taken from one of the engravings. Printed at the Rocket Press.