Book size 8¾ × 5¾ × ¾ in. Box size 9½ × 6¼ × 1⅜ in. Uniquely bound by Lori Sauer in vellum and leather, housed in an embellished drawer-box. 42 unnumbered pages. Fine. 

Prayers Written at Vailima gathers R. L. Stevenson’s prayers in a spirit of quiet devotion and clarity with illustrations that bring the reader to Vailima, a village on the Samoan Island of Upolu, in a gentle evocation of place and daily faith. Each prayer is accompanied by an original linoleum-cut illustration by Catherine Kanner that reflects Stevenson’s deep affection for his island home.

Prayers Written at Vailima was originally published in England in 1904. Produced by the Melville Press in a limited edition run of 200, this copy has been uniquely rebound by Lori Sauer (2005) as commissioned by Alan Karter. The spine is covered in black Japanese tissue with goatskin headcaps. The spine wrapper is alum-tawed goat with snake and calf edging at the head and tail. The boards are vellum with six tooth-shaped holes cut and lined with acid-free paper, inlaid snakeskin and onlaid calf. The box is a drawer in a slipcase covered with Reliance bookcloth, with a snakeskin covered lip, rolled vellum handle, lined with felt. The recessed front panel is onlaid with snakeskin, with two vellum panels showing a facsimile illustration and title lined with calf.

This copy is signed and numbered 98/200 by Kenner. The leaves are letterpress printed on Hiromi-Sansui rice paper with Thai Mango red endpapers.The typeface is Bembo. Signatures are French folded. This edition won the Rounce & Coffin Award for Excellence in Book Design. Full details are available upon request.

From the University of Utah Marriott Library Blog, Dec 03, 2018: ‘In 1889, Robert Louis Stevenson moved his family to Vailima in the South Sea island of Samoa. The Scottish novelist and poet was in failing health. His doctors hoped that a change in climate would help. Stevenson believed in the power of prayer and composed many of his own. He held evening prayer services in his home, attended by his family members and his Samoan servants. The Samoans had a strong tradition of closing each day with prayer and hymns.’