| Inkwell Press Collection
Manuscript Collection 397
Description:
Printed materials, correspondence, papers, textiles, 1961-2005.
14 cubic ft.
Organization: Series arrangement by original order.
Printed documents and printing materials.
Processed by F. Jason Torre, January 2006. Updated by Jason Torre in August 2009.
Online finding aid by Kristen J. Nyitray.
Preface
Introduction
Biographical Note
Scope and Content
Series Description
Container Listing
Preface
The following finding aid outlines the materials contained within the
Inkwell Press Collection, MC 397. All unpublished, manuscript items contained
within the actual collection have been listed in their entirety, except
where note. For a full listing of Inkwell Press’ works, search in
the Library’s online catalog, STARS.
Introduction
The Inkwell Press Collection (MC 397) was created and donated to the
Special Collections Department and University Archives by artist, printer
and book designer, Vincent Torre, in the spring of 2005. The collection
is comprised of 13 cubic feet of printed works, proofs, correspondence
and wood blocks used in the creation of wood prints. Noted for excellent
design and craftsmanship, the Inkwell Press Collection provides a historical
overview of the a half century of private press book design and publishing
while tracking the evolution of private press work in the northeastern
United States.
The collection is open to research with some restrictions in accordance
with general access principles, and under the discretion of the departmental
staff. The creator of the collection, Inkwell Press (Vincent Torre) holds
copyright to his personal works. All requests to use or reproduce any
papers or publications should be addressed to the departmental staff.
In citing the collection, please credit it as follows: Inkwell Press Collection,
Special Collections Department, Stony Brook University Libraries, and
Stony Brook University. Materials within this collection may be located
with the use of the collection's finding aid, available in hardcopy and
online through the University's Libraries' web page.
Biographical Note
A BRIEF NOTE
I have been painting since the age of 13. 1 studied with Sidney Laufman,
Wallace Harrison and Josef Albers, and at the Academia di Belle Arti,
Rome, where I painted for a year and had a one-man show at the Teatro
dei Satiri.
I had my first one-man show at the Norfolk (Virginia) Museum in 1953 while
serving in the Navy. Subsequently, I had several one-man shows and took
part in many group shows.
In 1989-1990 I was artist-in-residence at the William Steeple Davis House
in Orient village. Working in Davis' old carriage house studio, I completed
45 paintings of the area, with particular emphasis on the classic picket
fences to be found in the village. The resulting show at the Oysterponds
Historical Society was aptly titled “Fences.”
Recent exhibitions in eastern Long 1sland include: The Mattituck/Laurel
Library; The East End Arts Council, Riverhead; the Cook Pony Farm office,
Sag Harbor; the Art-trim in Melville, sponsored by the Huntington Arts
Council; and at Martha Clara Vineyards.
After having painted in places as different as Maine, London and Fame,
I find the North Fork suits me and my work. It is a perfect place for
artists who want to transfer their vision of nature to paper, canvas or
stone.
In Mattituck, my studio is a converted chicken coop. I show my work in
the big white barn behind the house where we have lived since 1997. Visitors
are always welcome.
Vincent Torre, 1997
(Excerpted from a promotional packet prepared by Mr. Vincent Torre)
Scope and Content
The Inkwell Press Collection consists of various series. The series'
original order has been maintained where applicable and re-created in
others to assist researchers more easily. Items housed in acidic or metal
housings have been removed from these housings for preservation reasons
and have been placed in acid free folders and containers. All metal fasteners
have been removed and replaced in accordance with accepted archival standards
of preservation. The broad depth of information and various formats in
which the information is conveyed within the various series provides the
researcher with a comprehensive look at the progression private press
work.
Of note, the plates/woodblocks contained within the collection provide
an excellent look into the two different printing processes. The wood
blocks contained within the collection were the actual block used to created
prints and signatures for the press’ noted works. The craftsmanship
allow researchers a look into the painstaking process of wood block printing
while the lithographic plates also contained within the collection allow
students of the book to study book layout and the printing process.
Series Description
Series I: General Works, 1968-2003. The series consists of Mr. Torre’s
original writings and correspondence from the press in hand bound form.
Series II: Prose and Poetry Works, 1967-2005. The series consists of
Mr. Torre’s original poetry and prose works in hand bound form.
Series III: Bound Proofs, 1947-2002. The series consists of bound page
proofs from Inkwell press.
Series IV: Ink Drawings, 1961-2005. The series consists of hand-bound,
ink drawing, press books. Each book is a separate title created based
on an overlying artistic theme. These titles do not have the colophon
of Inkwell but are considered published works.
Series V: Pencil Drawings, 1967-1992. The series consists of hand-bound,
pencil drawings and sketch books.
Series VI: Portfolios, 1981-1991. The series contains portfolios of unbound,
loose works of ink and pen, referred to in publishing terms as ‘blads.’
Series VII: Printing Plates and Blocks, N.D. The series contains aluminum
lithographic plates and carved wood block used in printmaking.
Container Listing
Series I: General Works
Box 1
Correspondence, etc. in the production of A Tribute to W.A. Dwiggins,
N.D.
The Traveler Watchman, N.D.
History of Pearl Street, N.D.
History of Pearl Street (copy 2 is typescript with corrections), N.D.
Prince and the Stable Boy, 1968
The Trouble with Poetry May 1994
Box 2
Notes on Book Design, 1972
Notes on Book Design (copy 2 is typescript with corrections), 1972
Vincent Torre (notes), 2002-2003
Series II: Prose and Poetry Works
Box 3
Limericks, 1970-1972, 1983-1984
New Limericks, 1989-1990/Poems & Fables, 1991
Limericks, 1992-1993
Limericks, 1995
Limericks, 1996
Limericks, 1996
Box 4
Limericks, 1996-1997
Limericks, 1997
Limericks, 1998
Limericks, 1998
Limericks, 1999
Limericks, 1999
Limericks, 2000
Box 5
Limericks, 2000-2001
Limericks, 2001
Limericks, 2001
Limericks, 2001-2002
Limericks, 1970-2002
Box 6
Poems, 1969-1971
Tales and Fables book 1, 1984
Tales and Fables book 2, 1985
Tales and Fables book 3, 1987-1989
Verses and Fables, 1990-1991
Poems and Fables, 1991
Why cats like to eat Mice: An Italian Folktale narrated by Struglia Fiorentini.
Written in English by Vincent Torre, 1967
Box 7
Lyrics and Ballads, 1972
Poems and Fables, 1994
Rhymes and Fables, 1994
Rhymes and Fables, 1995
Inklings I, 2004
Inklings II, 2004
Inklings III, 2004-2005
Inklings IV, 2005
Series III: Bound Proofs
Box 8
A Book of Fables, Fables from Aesop and Original fables written and illustrated
by Vincent Torre, N.D.
Complete Limericks, N.D.
Complete Poems, 1973-1984
Fables, 1984-1985
Box 9
Fables, 1985-1986
Fables, 1987-1989
Fables, 1987-1989
The Italian Commedia dell’ arte, 1982
Box 10
The Leaping Knight, N.D.
Limericks, 1970-2002
Limericks, 1970-2002 (copy 2)
Moses and the Meyers House Ghost, N.D.
Moses and the Meyers House Ghost (illustrated), N.D.
Box 11
Poems and Fables, 1991
Poems for Children, N.D.
Rhymes and Fables, 1984-1995
Seasons: Poems, 1947-1972
Box 12
Verse and Fable, 1991-1992
Wander Wood and other Poems for Children, N.D.
Limericks, 1970-2002
Brooklyn Botanic Gardens, Sept.-Oct. 1995
Poems by William Shakespeare, Vincent Torre MCMLI
Series IV: Ink Drawings
Box 13
Vincent Torre, 1961
Vincent Torre, 1961
Drawings, 1973
Drawings in Ink, 1981
Drawings, 1990 (pencil and ink)
Drawings, 1991
Box 14
Ink Drawings, 1995
Ink Drawings, 1995
Ink Drawings, 1996
Box 15
Ink Drawings, June-July 1996
Ink Drawings, August 1996
Ink Drawings, April-June 1998
Box 16
Ink Drawings, May-June 1999
Ink Drawings, 2001
Ink Drawings, 2001
Box 17
Ink Drawings, 2001
Ink Drawings, June-July 2001
Ink Drawings, 2001
Box 18
Ink Drawings, 2001
Ink Drawings, 2001
Ink Drawings, 2001
Box 19
Ink Drawings, 2002
Ink Drawings, 2002
Ink Drawings, 2002
Box 20
Ink Drawings, 2003
Ink Drawings, 2003
Ink Drawings, 2003
Ink Drawings, 2003
Box 21
Ink Drawings, 2003
Ink Drawings, 2003
Ink, 2003
Box 22 – Oversize books
Ink Drawings, 2000
Ink Drawings, 2002
Ink Drawings, 2002
Box 23 – Oversize books
Ink Drawings, 2004
Ink Drawings, 2004
Ink Drawings, 2004
Box 24 – Oversize books
Ink Drawings, 2004
Ink Drawings, 2004
Box 25 – Oversize books
Ink Drawings, 2004
Ink Drawings, 2004
Box 26 – Oversize books
Ink Drawings, 2005
Ink Drawings, 2005
Box 26A – Oversize books
Ink Drawings, 2006
Ink Drawings, 2008
Box 26B – Oversize books
Ink Drawings, 2008
Ink Drawings, 2008
Series V: Pencil Drawings
Box 27
Vincent Torre May 1992
Vincent Torre, 1989
Vincent Torre, 1987
Vincent Torre, 1986
Vincent Torre, 1981-1982
Vincent Torre, 1967
Series VI: Portfolios
Box 28
Portfolio, 1981 (ink)
Portfolio, 1981 (ink)
Portfolio, 1981 (ink)
Box 29
Ink Drawings by Vincent Torre, 1988
Ink Drawings by Vincent Torre, 1991
Series VII: Printing Plates and Blocks
Box 30
16 carved wood blocks from the ‘Nudes’ title.
Box 31
28 carved wood blocks from the ‘Nudes’ title.
Box 32
4 carved wood blocks of ‘flowers.’
Box 33
7 carved wood blocks of ‘flowers.’
Box 34
4 oversized carved wood blocks of ‘flowers.’
Box 35
1 carved wood block of ‘field.’
14 carved wood block of ‘carousel horse.’
Box 36
56 lithographic plates from the printing of “The Leaping Knight.”
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