From inside a stained and well-worn cover, treasures from
the Golden Age of fine book illustration
by Larry Cottrill, Director, Cottrill Cyclodyne Corporation
Boyhood wonder ...
One of the joys of my childhood was the personal library of my father's parents,
Clarence and Sophie Cottrill. On the wages of a career postal worker, my grandfather
put together an eclectic set of books from the 1920s through the 1950s. While I now
realize that this collection was quite small, it always seemed wonderful to me --
but the most wonderful of all was this big, old Rand-McNally edition of Twenty
Thousand Leagues Under the Sea.
The first time I took this book off the shelf, I had just seen the beautiful
[but somewhat inaccurate] 1954 Disney film interpretation, so I dug eagerly into
the book. At that time, I had probably never heard the cliche expression, "The
book was better," but even as a seven-year-old boy, I immediately realized that reading the
book was a higher order of experience in many respects. Through the Schuyler
translation, Verne spun in my young imagination a wondrous tale of impossible
yet shockingly believable adventure, pulling me into the strange submarine
world of the vengeance-driven genius calling himself Captain Nemo. I was captivated
by the author's erudite style and brilliant sense of detail.
Even in these days of
safe, affordable sport diving and Man In The Sea projects [and in spite of a few
technical errors in terms of physics and marine biology - remember, Verne was writing
in the 1880s!], the book is still a thing of wondrous literary magic, and justly retains
its place as one of the great early classics in the science fiction genre.
The illustrations ...
Not the least of the delights in this edition are the brilliant color
renderings of the much-lauded illustrator, Milo Winter. In these masterful
illustrations, the artist brings out wonderful visual conceptions of key moments
in the story line, perfectly complementing the printed text. There is wonderful
'life and breath' in these paintings, and I remember eagerly studying them time and
time again in visits to my grandparents' home, even years after I had finished my
first read of the book.
Without falling into the camps of being either stylishly avant-garde or slavishly
realistic, these paintings turn out to be a brilliant example of fine book
illustration in what could arguably be called the Golden Age of that art genre.
I have always particularly thought that Winter had a wonderful sense of composition,
especially in capturing the visual drama of a scene. Just scroll down through the eight thumbnail representations below
to see what I mean!
Now, an opportunity for you to own this beautiful and
unusual artwork to display proudly in your own home or office
Three factors aligned themselves to make this offer possible: [1] My possession of
my late grandfather's copy of this edition; [2] my skills as a former professional photographer;
and [3] the fact that printed works published before 1923 can be freely copied. This means that
these wonderful examples of the craft of Milo Winter can now be made available to the public,
not to just the few collectors of old books who happen across a good copy of this edition!
Recently taking a critical look at my copy, I found the printed pages and the brilliant color
plates to be in as good condition as I remembered them! The quality of this edition must have
been very good for its day - not only are the colors in the plates still well-saturated
and vibrant, but even the text pages are only slightly darkened to a fairly uniform light ivory
tone. [The only detractions from the beauty of the interior of the book are the general
weakening of the binding, and occasional pencil notations here or there in the text.]
About Design - 'Graphic' and 'Diptych' Versions
My first design was, of course, simply the wonderful Milo Winter renderings, which
qualify as fine art in themselves. In the book, there is always an inscription, taken from
the written text on one of the preceding pages, imprinted in blue italic print directly
below each rendering. I immediately decided to include this, reproduced as faithfully as
possible, in the same way.
But then, as a lover of great writing (albeit translated, in this case) and as a former
professional photographer, it occurred to me that the juxtaposition of each rendering with
the text of the associated page could make a more unusual photographic work of art, while
being just as beautiful for display in a home or office setting. Why not, then, produce
top-quality reproductions in this 'open book' style and offer them to the public as well?
This forced me to create terminology to distinguish between the two design styles. I finally
chose the old artist's term 'Diptych' (basically, two scenes side-by-side) to describe
the text-plus-graphic version. I decided to place the graphic on the right side, since this is
how it appears in the book. The only exception is the Frontispiece of Ned Land the harpooner,
which appears on the left as you open the book to the title page. I had to call the solo
rendering something, so I settled on naming it the 'Graphic' version of the design. All this
is made clearer when you view the thumbnail
representations below
A new addition to the design is that I decided that the book title and the illustrator should
be prominently featured. So, at the very bottom edge of each print, I set up in small but
bold white modern font the inscriptions: TWENTY THOUSAND LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA and MILO
WINTER 1922. These are just barely visible in the
thumbnail pictures below
About Dimensions - NEW 'Full Poster' Size Available!
My original design, years ago, was limited to the 11 x 17 inch [about 28 x 43 cm]
'Mini Poster' size, because that was the largest size I could get printed that was practical
and affordable. Today, I can do the printing in-house up to the 'Super B' size outside
dimensions - 13 x 19 inches [about 33 x 48 cm]. While adding two inches each way doesn't
sound like much, the difference in visual impact is surprising.
The larger size is excellent if you're going to frame or hang the work in a larger room or
if you just want the print to be especially prominent in the space. I think the larger
format is especially nice for the 'Diptych' form - the text can be read by a person with
normal vision from better than 6 feet [about 2m] away. In the case of the full-size 'Graphic'
poster, the blue inscription beneath the rendering is readable at a distance of close to 10
feet [about 3m]! The total area of the 'full poster' is over 32 percent greater than that
of the 'mini poster' - that's a lot of gain for the extra cost.
Quality of the product is exactly the same for the two sizes offered. The printed area has
a slightly better 'fit' to the larger rectangle, i.e. a little less noticeable 'white space'
around the edges. Here's a true-to-scale size comparison:
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Graphic Full Poster
Overall dims: 13 x 19 inches (33 x 48 cm)
Rendering dims: approx. 11.25 x 15.75
inches (29 x 40 cm)
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Graphic Mini-Poster
Overall dims: 11 x 17 inches (28 x 43 cm)
Rendering dims: approx. 9.75 x 13.75
inches (25 x 35 cm)
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Here's what you get:
These frameables are printed on heavy weight, bright white, acid-free paper, in 11 x 17 inch
[about 28 x 43 cm] 'Mini Poster' outside dimensions - OR, the NEW 'Full Poster' size, 13 x 19
inch [about 33 x 48 cm] dimensions. 'Graphic' posters are 'portrait' format [vertical
orientation] while the specially-designed 'Diptych' style posters are
'landscape' format [horizontal]. They are shipped carefully rolled in an ample, rugged
mailing tube. I will only accept up to five posters in a single order, and will only ship
a maximum of five posters in a single tube! If you want more, please use a second order.
All US shipments are Priority Mail with Confirmation [i.e. a tracking number].
[Foreign shipments are by the most economical means available with proof of mailing, and
promptness of delivery cannot be guaranteed.] Shipment will be within five business days of placing your order.
All payments are through PayPal, BUT if you don't
have a PayPal membership, you can choose
from several common credit cards when you order.
Please note that these are strictly limited
editions - there will be ABSOLUTELY NO MORE THAN 1,000 PRINTED of each frameable offered,
regardless of sizes produced!
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Now, choose from eight full-color heavy photo
print, gallery quality Milo Winter illustrations
to grace the decor of any home or office ...
Illustration I (Frontispiece):
Ned Land under the bowsprit of the Abraham Lincoln
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Graphic mini-poster
: $ 30.00 US
TTL-01: 11 x 17 inches [28 x 43 cm, approx.]
Shipping and handling, world-wide: FREE!
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Graphic full poster: $ 36.00 US
TTL-F01: 13 x 19 inches [33 x 48 cm, approx.]
Shipping and handling, world-wide: FREE!
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Diptych mini-poster: $ 30.00 US
TTL-D01: 17 x 11 inches [43 x 28 cm, approx.]
Shipping and handling, world-wide: FREE!
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Diptych full poster: $ 36.00 US
TTL-FD01: 19 x 13 inches [48 x 33 cm, approx.]
Shipping and handling, world-wide: FREE!
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Inscription:
The Canadian, his body thrown slightly backward, brandished his
harpoon in an experienced hand |
Illustration II:
A museum in which an intelligent, if a spendthrift, hand ...
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Graphic mini-poster: $ 30.00 US
TTL-02: 11 x 17 inches [28 x 43 cm, approx.]
Shipping and handling, world-wide: FREE!
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Graphic full poster: $ 36.00 US
TTL-F02: 13 x 19 inches [33 x 48 cm, approx.]
Shipping and handling, world-wide: FREE!
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Diptych mini-poster: $ 30.00 US
TTL-D02: 17 x 11 inches [43 x 28 cm, approx.]
Shipping and handling, world-wide: FREE!
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Diptych full poster: $ 36.00 US
TTL-FD02: 19 x 13 inches [48 x 33 cm, approx.]
Shipping and handling, world-wide: FREE!
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Inscription:
A museum in which an intelligent, if a spendthrift, hand had
gathered an amazing medley of the best
treaures of nature and art |
Illustration III:
All these and many other wonders I saw ...
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Graphic mini-poster: $ 30.00 US
TTL-03: 11 x 17 inches [28 x 43 cm, approx.]
Shipping and handling, world-wide: FREE!
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Graphic full poster: $ 36.00 US
TTL-F03: 13 x 19 inches [33 x 48 cm, approx.]
Shipping and handling, world-wide: FREE!
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Diptych mini-poster: $ 30.00 US
TTL-D03: 17 x 11 inches [43 x 28 cm, approx.]
Shipping and handling, world-wide: FREE!
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Diptych full poster: $ 36.00 US
TTL-FD03: 19 x 13 inches [48 x 33 cm, approx.]
Shipping and handling, world-wide: FREE!
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Inscription:
All these and many other wonders I saw within the space of a
quarter of a mile |
Illustration IV:
The canoes at a given signal approached the "Nautilus" ...
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Graphic mini-poster: $ 30.00 US
TTL-04: 11 x 17 inches [28 x 43 cm, approx.]
Shipping and handling, world-wide: FREE!
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Graphic full poster: $ 36.00 US
TTL-F04: 13 x 19 inches [33 x 48 cm, approx.]
Shipping and handling, world-wide: FREE!
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Diptych mini-poster: $ 30.00 US
TTL-D04: 17 x 11 inches [43 x 28 cm, approx.]
Shipping and handling, world-wide: FREE!
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Diptych full poster: $ 36.00 US
TTL-FD04: 19 x 13 inches [48 x 33 cm, approx.]
Shipping and handling, world-wide: FREE!
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Inscription:
The canoes at a given signal approached the "Nautilus" and a
shower of missiles alighted on her |
Illustration V:
He threw himself aside with amazing quickness ...
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Graphic poster: $ 30.00US
TTL-05: 11 x 17 inches [28 x 43 cm, approx.]
Shipping and handling, world-wide: FREE!
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Graphic full poster: $ 36.00US
TTL-F05: 13 x 19 inches [33 x 48 cm, approx.]
Shipping and handling, world-wide: FREE!
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Diptych mini-poster: $ 30.00 US
TTL-D05: 17 x 11 inches [43 x 28 cm, approx.]
Shipping and handling, world-wide: FREE!
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Diptych full poster: $ 36.00 US
TTL-FD05: 19 x 13 inches [48 x 33 cm, approx.]
Shipping and handling, world-wide: FREE!
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Inscription:
He threw himself aside with amazing quickness, avoiding the shock
of collision and at the same second driving
his dagger into its side |
Illustration VI:
There, indeed, right beneath my eyes, lay a town ...
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Graphic mini-poster: $ 30.00 US
TTL-06: 11 x 17 inches [28 x 43 cm, approx.]
Shipping and handling, world-wide: FREE!
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Graphic full poster: $ 36.00 US
TTL-F06: 13 x 19 inches [33 x 48 cm, approx.]
Shipping and handling, world-wide: FREE!
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Diptych mini-poster: $ 30.00 US
TTL-D06: 17 x 11 inches [43 x 28 cm, approx.]
Shipping and handling, world-wide: FREE!
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Diptych full poster: $ 36.00 US
TTL-FD06: 19 x 13 inches [48 x 33 cm, approx.]
Shipping and handling, world-wide: FREE!
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Inscription:
There, indeed, right beneath my eyes, lay a town that had been
destroyed |
Illustration VII:
Captain Nemo unfurled a black banner which bore an "N" ...
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Graphic mini-poster: $ 30.00 US
TTL-07: 11 x 17 inches [28 x 43 cm, approx.]
Shipping and handling, world-wide: FREE!
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Graphic full poster: $ 36.00 US
TTL-F07: 13 x 19 inches [33 x 48 cm, approx.]
Shipping and handling, world-wide: FREE!
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Diptych poster: $ 30.00US
TTL-D07: 17 x 11 inches [43 x 28 cm, approx.]
Shipping and handling, world-wide: FREE!
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Diptych full poster: $ 36.00 US
TTL-FD07: 19 x 13 inches [48 x 33 cm, approx.]
Shipping and handling, world-wide: FREE!
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Inscription:
Captain Nemo unfurled a black banner which bore an "N" in gold
quartered on its bunting |
Illustration VIII:
The unhappy sailor was brandished in the air ...
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Graphic mini-poster: $ 30.00 US
TTL-08: 11 x 17 inches [28 x 43 cm, approx.]
Shipping and handling, world-wide: FREE!
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Graphic full poster: $ 36.00 US
TTL-F05: 13 x 19 inches [33 x 48 cm, approx.]
Shipping and handling, world-wide: FREE!
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Diptych mini-poster: $ 30.00 US
TTL-D08: 17 x 11 inches [43 x 28 cm, approx.]
Shipping and handling, world-wide: FREE!
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Diptych full poster: $ 36.00 US
TTL-FD08: 19 x 13 inches [48 x 33 cm, approx.]
Shipping and handling, world-wide: FREE!
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Inscription:
The unhappy sailor was brandished in the air at the caprice of
this huge trunk |
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P.S.
These are available NOW for the first time anywhere.
Don't miss your chance to choose from these eight full-color photo print quality frameables to
accent your home or office ...
Order Today!
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Larry Cottrill
Director of Product Development
Cottrill Cyclodyne Corporation
Soli Deo Gloria
Johann Sebastian Bach 1685 - 1750
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