Moving outsider book created by one Edward R. Roderick of New York State, likely while a patient at the Gowanda State Hospital.
Good plus.
Price: $2,000.00
Born in French Canada in 1865, Roderick emigrated to the US in 1875; he is listed in the 1900 and 1910 censuses as living in Buffalo NY and working as a shipping clerk (which may explain the Loew Blitz-Blank Beer Filter ledger utilized here). Roderick sadly disappears from the census records until his death in 1935, but the dealer from whom we purchased this item reports that it turned up in Gowanda NY, home of the Gowanda State Hospital for the insane, and we suspect given this book's nature that Mr. Roderick was likely in residence there for at least part of those 25 years. The ledger itself dates from approximately 1911, but the work contained therein is almost entirely undated. Three final images are dated 1913, but a loosely laid-in contemporary map of WWI — which many of the abstract images in the ledger clearly seem to echo — suggest the book may not have been assembled chronologically. Nevertheless, it is a haunting and harrowing work, weaving graphomanaical tendencies and make-believe alphabets with childlike crayoned aphorisms and naive folk-art portraits. Elsewhere, the aforementioned map-like drawings embody a freneticism that suggests a Dada-esque kind of automatic writing. Certain recurring named characters ("Red Cloud," "Zodac," "Princess Louisa") lend the work a unity that belies its apparently ad-hoc assembly, overall exerting a powerful spell. Likely produced by an inmate at a psychiatric hospital, a fascinating and ellusive livre brut.
[Buffalo, NY]: n.p, [ca. 1910s]. 16.75'' x 14.75''. Large folio ledger. Printed publisher's cloth. 200+ individual drawings and writings (most on 5" x 7" notepaper) mounted recto and verso to 17 leaves. Final leaf mounted recto only; 18 leaves content in all. 23 additional drawings and like loosely laid in. Remainder of ledger (12 leaves) unused. Worn overall with some starting to the binding. Still, sound.
We work hard to meet our ethical responsibility to describe our material accurately. All items are guaranteed as described and may be returned for any reason within 30 days. Please notify us before mailing a return.
We guarantee the authenticity of our items. All materials are original (meaning not facsimiles or reproductions) unless otherwise noted. First editions (meaning first edition, first printing) are explicitly stated. TPM is a member of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America and upholds their Code of Ethics.
All photographs are of the actual item for sale. We're happy to provide additional images on request.
All domestic orders ship gratis. For orders under $250, free USPS media mail shipping is included; orders $250 and over ship USPS Ground Advantage. International orders over $1000 also ship gratis. Expedited, overnight, as well as other carriers (UPS, Fed-Ex, etc.), may carry additional costs beyond quoted rates. All orders receive tracking information and a direct contact in case of any questions.
International buyers are responsible for any customs, taxes, and related import fees. Please note that we are unable to accomodate requests to misrepresent, misdeclare, or otherwise falsify customs documents when shipping internationally. We appreciate your understanding.
We accept all major credit cards, Paypal, Venmo, check, money order, and bank wire. We are happy to bill institutional buyers' needs. Sales tax will be added to applicable purchases. Items subject to prior sale.
If for any reason you are dissatisfied with your purchase, please contact us. We prioritize our long-term relationships far above any individual purchase, and we want you to love your item as much as we loved cataloguing it.
Type Punch Matrix is a Washington D.C.-area rare book firm founded by Rebecca Romney and Brian Cassidy.
Read more about TPM.
![MY CAMP LOG / LOVE NEVER DIES! [Camp Log Book: Camp Pinnacle, Voorheesville, NY]. Phyllis ARMSTRONG.](https://typepunchmatrix.cdn.bibliopolis.com/pictures/44326_1.jpg?width=320&height=427&fit=bounds&auto=webp&v=1726186174)
