Product Description
Magnificently grotesque pop-up illustrations adorn a sardonic retelling of a Mother Goose nursery rhyme in which Solomon Grundy's six-day life takes a complete downward spiral. ... Read more

Product Description
A cumulative folk song in which the solution proves worse than the predicament when an old lady swallows a fly. Features pop-up illustrations. ... Read more

Product Description
The Griffin & Sabine saga has sold over 3 million copies worldwide, led to 12 international editions, and spent over 100 weeks on the New York Times best-seller list. Both longtime fans and new readers will be thrilled to see the series in an exquisite boxed edition. The Morning Star trilogy (The Gryphon, Alexandria, and The Morning Star) is now available in a stunning red slipcase-a handsome complement to the Griffin & Sabine 3-Volume Boxed Set. A fantastic gift for lovers of art, mystery, and romance, here is an essential purchase for both new and tried-and-true Nick Bantock fans everywhere. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

More cryptic, less engaging than the first trilogy
Curious - this trilogy (a sequel to the Griffin & Sabine trilogy) was in many ways a more exciting story than the first.And the format and artwork was comparable, but somehow, when completed, it did not seem to have the overall impact that the first trilogy did.Still an enjoyable read and, as I said, a more exciting story in the classic good-guy/bad-guy sense.If you really enjoyed the first trilogy, you will want to read this if for no other reason than to 'complete' the story.

The Morning Star 3-Volume Box Set
Great price for all three books.These books can stand alone, but are a continuation of Nick Bantock's earlier trio.The artwork, mysterious story line and feeling that you are reading mail that belongs to someone else definitely add to the allure of these books.

Bantock scores another win with this trio!
Anyone who was captivated by the first three books in Bantock's imaginative Griffin & Sabine series--whether for the quality of the storytelling, the imagery, or even just for their creative design--owes it to themselves to check out these three followup volumes, which are every bit their equal on all counts. Even readers who are entirely unfamiliar with the Griffin & Sabine saga will, I think, find this trio a real treat and well worth the purchase price.

Griffin and Sabine live on!
This continuation of the Grifin and Sabine trilogy is fantastic. I read all three books in one sitting.

Well played Nick, you took our money and didn't deliver.
City girl and I recently read the six books.It was a delightful, warm, fun time, drinking wine and reading a book a night by the fire.I read aloud the male parts and she the female.We would laugh and wonder and hypothesize and puzzle over the meanings.They were wonderful memorable evenings.



My opinion of The Books:

He should have stopped at the first one!!

Like a movie company that sees dollar signs after a successful first run, Nick wrote a sequel that was a shadow of the original.The subsequent books prove to be good evidence that he had very little in mind as far as a story line goes and with the judicious application of vague, confusing and nonsensical teasings, he told us nothing.Just as "Jaws XXI" and "Halloween XVI" still brought the teenagers to the box office, so will "Sabine Becomes Cleopatra" and "Griffin Returns to Pleades" bring bring the Bantok herds stampeding into Barnes and Nobels.The cash registers will ring, Nick will smile, and the faithful will say, "May I please have some more?"

I didn't like his artwork either. ... Read more

Product Description
Pop-up faces of Robin Hood, Little John, Marion, Friar Tuck, the Sheriff of Nottingham, and King Richard illustrate this rhyming story of the outlaw known as Master Hood. ... Read more

Product Description
A walrus and a carpenter encounter some oysters during their walk on the beach--an unfortunate meeting for the oysters. ... Read more

Product Description
Containing a baffling mystery that reveals a connection between the ancient and contemporary worlds, an adult picture book offers a ten-drawer ""cabinet"" of colorful artifacts, each with its own eerie story. 75,000 first printing. $75,000 ad/promo. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (19)

Beautiful to look at, hard to solve.
Another masterwork of collage art this book is a conundrum indeed.If you like the artwork of Bantock and fancy yourself a modern day Sherlock Holmes this is the book for you. Fair warning, you're gonna need a Watson.

Strong, seductive imagery
Other of Bantock's works have pulled me in completely: the half-seen mysteries of Griffin and Sabine, the quirky afterlife of his Museum at Purgatory. This one just didn't, though. It features the same great artwork, collage and assemblage that combine widely disparate elements. At best, Bantock evokes the mystery and sense of mythology I've seen in Joseph Cornell's work, but with deeper layering.

The self-conscious challenge to the reader just never engaged me, though. I can deal with obscurity and I like puzzles, at least some kinds. I enjoy this book's imagery but, on the whole, it just didn't engage me the way Bantock's other books have done.

-- wiredweird

Enticing mystery
In the tradition of Nick Bantock, it is an artful mystery more complex than many of his other works (all of which I intend to collect).It is short and combines both the metaphysical and curious ancient artifacts from other cultures.I am taken on a journey and led to think of possible connections between the items.I am sure I will reread this work many times.Each time finding something new.It's a journey in intimate archeology.I wonder what someone would think of me if they looked through my life's souveniers?

Beautiful and atmospheric
For those of you trying to get hold of this (as of 2005) out of print volume, I recommend ebay or abebooks. I paid only US$12 for a very nice used copy and I treasure it.

From an artistic point of view it's really a breathtaking little volume. Bantock really does put a lot of care and thought into his constructions and collages and you can spend hours examining them (as an engineer I like that sort of art!)

I did cheat and look up the answer, but for puzzle fans I would recommend sticking with it a while. I did notice that all the drawers had different patterns on the edges which appeared to be coordinates, and figured out that Ln and Wd meant lenght and width, but besides that some of the clues were truly puzzling. But then I worked on Riven for weeks and finally had to look up a cheat to finish it...

In any case, as popular as Bantock's other works are I am surprised that it hasn't been reprinted recently. If I am decoding the publishers page correctly I think that mine is a third printing, but that is not a negative since I enjoy the book collectible or not.

WHY did I ever lend this book out?
It was never returned, and I mourn its absence.

To me, The Egyptian Jukebox is the "Myst" of book puzzles. With a central theme that mixes Egyptology with Rock & Roll, woven together with intriguing little trinkets, cryptic narration, and a deceivingly simple riddle to solve ("Where do my worlds join?"), it will draw in anyone who ever dreamed of solving an ancient mystery or unearthing a lost treasure.

Many with short attention spans will discard The Egyptian Jukebox before long. There are no instructions explaining how to even begin. But if you are a creative thinker and problem solver (and perhaps just a little obsessive), this puzzle will be both amusing and rewarding. The solution will amuse you, but like a favorite novel, will leave you wishing that the book never came to an end. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Sly....
If you liked the subversiveness of Ogden Nash, you'll love these beastly little verses! Plus, the presentation is exquisite: Shiny purple box with a wicked-looking rabbit behind the wheel of a car on the cover, opening up to two hidden compartments, one each for the cassette and book, each compartment whimiscally illustrated with bull dogs and ducks! NICE.

Further ramblings from the artist/poet
In this now out of print volume, Bantock explores the spoken word. For anyone who has enjoyed the visual stimuli of the Griffin & Sabine books, or the mesmerizing narrative of The Venitian' Wife, or the Forgetting Room. The poetry calls to mind a more off-beat Shel Silverstein. Highly recommended. ... Read more

Product Description
Two book set following the strange and intriguing correspondence of Griffin and Sabine. It is a story that is partly a romance, partly a mystery, and completely a work of art. Each page contains a new card or letter, rich with lush colors, brilliant drawing and wildly imaginative creatures and landscapes. And, in this multi-media novel, each letter must be pulled from an envelope, giving the reader that delightful forbidden sensation of reading someone else's mail. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

A feast for the eye, mind and soul
If you enjoy intrigue, creativity, correspondence and the allure of opening a collection of well-crafted letters and postcards mailed from across the globe, you are sure to delight in this exquisite collection. Nick Bantock's stunning "craftsmanship" is a feast for the eye, mind and soul.

Griffin & Sabine: An Extraordinary Correspondence
An epistolary novel in which Griffin Moss, a postcard artist in London, and Sabine Strohem, a postage stamp illustrator in the South Seas, fall in love via the mail, never having seen or spoken to each other. The book is illustrated in varying styles, from detailed line drawings to collages.

A beautiful calendar
This calendar has the most beautiful artwork of Griffin & Sabine. In fact, I had never heard of them until I bought the calendar for its beautiful art and mysterious quotes (from the books), which led me in turnto discover the wonders that are the Griffin & Sabine trilogy. Thecalendar is also good in a functional sense: it's organized week-per-page,with enough room to write what you need but not the excess that I've seenin some other such calendars. There are pages in the back to take notes,write down birthdays, etc. I'm very pleased! ... Read more

Product Description

Visit griffinandsabine.com! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Postcards for your own memorable correspondence
This wonderful collection of postcards from the stunning Griffin & Sabin trilogy will allow you to write your own memorable correspondence. The cards represent the complete collection of images from the books. Eachcard is a distinct backdrop for and unique inspiration for your ownmessages. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

address book Bantock.......
I love Nick Bantock's collage art. This spiral bound address book displays his works of art on the page where you enter address information.... the pages are 'antique-aged' looking. also included, for your viewing pleasure, are 'messages' from Griffin and Sabine on lettered pages...I find it an enjoyable source to keep track of friends both real and fictional.
the size is good, it snuggles in your purse or carry case for travel....

I'm an artist too!
I find Nick Bantock to be a great author, one can't put his books down, but what makes him great is his artwork. I happen to be a struggling artist who is still unsatisfied with her artwork. I've been painting since I was a kid. When will I be like Nick Bantock? I buy all his books, and am adding collage to my artwork.

A friend gave me this phone book as a birthday gift and I loved it but it got ruined by a lot of usage, so I just went and got another one just like the old one. I didn't want any other design.

Truly fun
These books were a gift to me from my son-in-law.I am an old-fashioned letter writer since I was a child (which was several decades ago) and the joy of opening envelopes and reading the letters as well as appreciating the artwork and imagination that went into this series is such a joy that I have since purchased several sets to give as gifts to dear friends with whom I have communicated over the years.Give as a gift and get one for yourself!

gripping
this book is one which you can't put down.you just keep going and going in the hopes of finding out what happens at the end.also, the formati makes it all the more interesting to read. instead of just plainly typedtext, you actually get to pull out letters from envelopes and read actualstamped postcards!this was a great book!!! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (18)

New lovers rediscover Griffin and Sabine
This is the first book in the 2nd Griffin and Sabine trilogy. We meet Matthew, to whom Sabine wrote a postcard to in the last book (The Golden Mean). We also meet his love, Isabelle. They are in a long distance relationship, with Matthew being an archeologist. Matthew receives Griffin and Sabine's correspondence and the two newcomers work on discovering if these two are real or if this is a hoax.When Isabella begins receiving correspondence from Griffin things become more intense and the mystery evolves. While I picked up this series to find out what happened to Griffin and Sabine, I found myself becoming intrigued by the two new characters and the parallels between their relationship and those of Griffin and Sabine. The book's plot keeps your interest and the artwork on the letters continues to be amazing. I can't wait to read the next installment to see what will happen.

BlueVelvette
"The Gryphon" is an extraordinary read.The collection "Griffin and Sabine" is one to be cherished and valued for a long, long, long time.The long-distance lovers, take you on a romantic voyage, that reels in the flight of the imagination.You can not help but enjoy the fantasy, the film playing over and over in your mind. Photographs, that tickle the mind's eye.Absolutely breathtaking.Delivery prompt and received as described (new).

More than just a book
There's a lot to like here. This book opens a series that is sequel to Griffin and Sabine, one of the most imaginative sets I've ever seen.

Like G&S, we see our characters only through their correspondence. This gives a delicious sense of voyeurism, of peeking in on unguarded moments between intimates. The book presents the postcards at standard size, usually with images on one side and text on the other. The letters are separate sheets, in envelopes that are built into the book. This creates a distinctive reading experience - the physical interaction between book and reader is very different from normal turn-the-page, and evokes a sense of personal involvement.

The imagery is rich and layered, in Bantock's signature style. The best of these pictures contain many elements, where each retains a distinct identity within the whole. Sometimes, though, the different components seem overworked and run together, an effect I find murky.

The plot is cryptic and eerie as in G&S, partly because this extends G&S. As in real life, the story moves forward in uneven increments, a step forward by this character, then a step by that one. It holds my attention, but doesn't seem to carry the drama of the original series.

This is a wonderful book and an uncommon experience in reading. Bantock struck sparks in the original Griffin and Sabine series that he tries to recapture here. 'Gryphon' continues the story capably, but lacks the freshness of G&S. Still, I'm looking forward to the next books in this set.

What took him so long!
I knew there was more to be written by Bantock than just the third book of G&S trilogy and sure enough after all this time he does it again.However, I was wanting more about Griffin and Sabine and I had hoped the baby picture at the end of the third book was an indication of more about them.Instead, Bantock begins with a new trilogy, with new lovers.But thank God he kept with his unique stlye of writing with letters and intriguing pictures and art work that varies through out the book making him a writer in his own class. His work is excellent and I started reading him years ago when I saw how beautiful his trilogy looked on a book shelf.That has led me to buy all his books including his address book and notecards and now my friends collect his stuff also.
If your not sure you want to read this book or the Griffin and Sabine trilogy than at least pick up the "Venetians Wife" and I guarantee you will change your mind. All of Bantock's books have an unusual theme filled with mystery, some romance and intrigue enough to make me read the books in one sitting.Please give one of his works a try especially if you are bored with the standard form of mystery writing.Bantock's books are a delight not only to read but to look at, even if you don't like this type of reading.BEWARE OF ALL THE CLUES AND TWIST IN HIS BOOKS.

Missed hearing from Griffin and Sabine
Once again, as he did in his Griffin and Sabine trilogy, Nick Bantock combines, in a most clever manner, both mystical thoughts and ideas using letters and postcards in his newest book, The Gryphon.With wonderful illustrations of stamps from far away places and beauiful calligraphy on notes which fold out from actual envelopes, the author engages his readers with further tales about Griffin and Sabine.While this book isa bit darker than his others and also engages two more characters in the search for Griffin and Sabine, overall this title is a welcome addition to the first three books which were so very unique when they were first published.

Now, after almost a decade's absence from the literary scene, its nice to know that Griffin and Sabine are alive and well. But if we still don't know exactly where they are in the world, one wonders if Mr. Bantock is having too much fun writing these books to ever let us find out. ... Read more

Product Description
Visit griffinandsabine.com! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

A Poor Selection of Cards
I love Nick Bantock's work. The endless nuances of his altered artwork continues to amaze me.But I feel this collections of notecards are certainly NOT the most interesting that could have been reproduced.I doubt I'll use many of these.

Keep-ah!
I love writing letters, and frequently use notecards.As a fan of this series of books, these would have seemed to be the perfect addition to the cards I carry when I am traveling.

I was wrong.I ended up framing some of them in sets.

Each time I look at the prints on the wall I am taken back to the story---and it makes my day.

beautiful selections of nick bantock's work...
however, not the high quality of paper stock I expected.The works, while beautiful, would be further accentuated by a better grade of paper, making them not only beautiful to look at, but to hold and to receive.

This is high-quality stationary for the Bantock fan.
This stationary was given to me as a gift, and I love it.The designs are classic Bantock and can be used for any occasion.The cards are of heavy stock and are large in size.This is a perfect gift and great for loversof stationary. ... Read more

Product Description
Text, pop-up pictures, flaps, and pull tabs introduce the aerodynamic principles in wings. ... Read more

Product Description
A hardback, and an audio cassette. ... Read more

Product Description
His internationally best-selling Griffin & Sabine saga is treasured for its blend of lyrical storyline and compelling, imaginative art. Now Nick Bantock gives a short course in visual creativity in Urgent 2nd Class. A tour through the techniques and materials which constitute his signature style, Bantock shares with readers numerous ways ways of using old paper ephemera -- maps, letters, postcards, ledgers, scraps, photos, and many more items -- to create their own idiosyncratic art. Written for people of all artistic skill levels, the materials mentioned are all easily found and inexpensive, and the processes are simple enough to do at home (and with access to the most advanced machinery used in the book, a photocopier). An inspirational guide to the simple artistic techniques which can alchemically transform ephemera into remarkable works, Urgent 2nd Class is the handbook for a new generation of visual poets. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (28)

Urgent 2nd Class
postcard and other mail art enthusiasts should have at least THIS book by Nick Bantock. Good collaging, layout tips. I agree with his philosophy of using the original 'thing' or document, whatever bit of ephemera in the piece.

Not what I expected...but interesting.
Interesting book, a couple really good pieces for ephemera work. It is a "History of" type book.

Some technique, some inspiration, and a lot of Bantock's work
"Urgent 2nd Class" doesn't seem to place one element of its agenda ahead of another.The author, Nick Bantock seems to have wanted to chat about his work, offer some insights into his techniques, and throw some inspirations out for others to use.If you're looking for just one aspect, you'll probably be disappointed, but if you are open to all that this book offers, you have a good chance of getting as much pleasure out of it as I did.

The techniques address fabrication of rubber stamps (especially official looking ones); the use of old photos, money, mail, maps, and other documents; the integration of photos and photocopies; collage; and numerous other materials and methods.Some of the uses of photocopies were new to me, as were the approaches to transfering laserprinter images to a work.Other parts of the book offered perspectives on different materials and techniques that I hadn't considered before.

This is where the inspiration comes in.Not so much inspiration for subject matter, but for techniques.Collage lends itself to an infinite range of tools and materials, and sometimes an artist need to be shaken form their customary tools and challenged to communicate with techniques they hadn't considered before.This book is an excellent inspiration in this sense.

Needless to say, the examples are all Bantock, and the materials that inspire Bantock and find their way into his work are here in force.If you're a fan of his work, this book is an essential part of your collection.

It is a diverse work, both in the scope of techniques and in the author's discussions of his materials and works, but enjoyable, inspiring, and accessible (this last being an affront to too many artists who appear to believe that 'accessible' is the same as 'bad art').I took a lot of pleasure in this one.

E.M. Van Court

Some food for thought but pretty thin
I love Nick Bantock's work, and I was about to take a workshop in which we would illustrate personal narrative by creating convincing "fake" documents, so I thought this book would be a fountain of inspiration. It was pretty disappointing. It's almost as if the publisher simply rounded up a bunch of Bantock's unpublished work, created categories for chapters and then got a few comments from him. No techniques described, and so little context for the work presented that it felt more like a quick-and-dirty publishing project to trade on Bantock's name.

NOT Second Class
As an artist (and bookaholic), I was fascinated with Nick Bantock's delightful "Griffin & Sabine" which appeared almost twenty years ago.Over the years I have collected all of his books ... except for this one - "Urgent 2nd Class".The art of collage has come to me slowly, and by accident, over the past eight or so years.There are many books and magazines which gave me ideas, but not exactly what I had in mind.What caused me to go to my Bantock books, and to find that "Urgent 2nd Class:..." existed?My Muse?Of course, Amazon.com was able to supply me with not only the book, but also had a number of pages available from the book itself so that one can see what one is getting (especially valuable in my case).I purchased it immediately!
Upon receiving the little book itself, I knew that I had found what I had been looking for ...great information, great art, great ideas, by a great artist/author who is able to say what needs to be said expressively, but without excessive verbage.
If you want to or are already creating collages that are perhaps a little out of the ordinary, and you haven't found just the right book to help you, this one could be THE ONE.It is for me. ... Read more

Product Description
Griffin & Sabine, Sabine's Notebook, and The Golden Mean have sold over 3 million copies worldwide, and spent over 100 weeks on The New York Times best-seller list. At long last, Nick Bantock brings us a new volume in the Griffin and Sabine story. The Gryphon is a tale rich in the artistry, mystery, and surprise that make the original saga so beloved. Although readers will be drawn into the book without ever having read the trilogy, The Gryphon begins to answer the question that fans have been waiting eight years to answer: "What happened to Griffin and Sabine?" As their remarkable fates are gradually revealed, we are introduced to Matthew and Isabella, long-distance lovers who find themselves entwined not only in each other's lives, but also in a perilous and alluring intrigue. The drama literally unfolds from postcard to richly decorated postcard and as provocative letters are pulled from real envelopes. The Gryphon features stunning new imagery, offering glimpses of mythic dreamscapes and surreal creatures as only Nick Bantock could have imagined. For those meeting Griffin and Sabine for the first time, here's an introduction that will have them yearning to explore the earlier volumes. And for those who have already entered the enchanting world of Griffin and Sabine, The Gryphon is a delightful rediscovery of a truly extraordinary correspondenceAmazon.com Review
With a fanciful combination of postcards and letters, author Nick Bantock takes you on a romantic and suspenseful tour of an imagined world. The Gryphon is the delightful follow-up to the wildly popular Griffin & Sabine trilogy. This sequel doesn't disappoint; it's as quixotic and cloaked in mystery as the trilogy, replete with similarly captivating foldouts and handwritten letters. Each illustration is intricately drawn with special attention paid to the tiniest details, like the faded postmarks on exotic stamps. Old-fashioned letters create an atmosphere of adventure, surrounding you with colorful images of ancient symbols. The correspondence between the four players flies off to real and mythical lands conjuring up dark forces and love affairs. It is impossible not to want to know what happens next. If you were charmed by Griffin and Sabine, then it's absolutely unthinkable to miss The Gryphon. --J.P. Cohen ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great
Never tireing to read over and again.Great price, and great fast shipping.Thank you. ... Read more

Product Description
Each of these three books are hard cover, 8-1/8"x8-1/16" in size. #1 Griffin & Sabine c1991 - ...and so begins the story, through the strange and intriguing correspondence of Griffin and Sabine. Since each letter must be pulled from its own envelope, the reader has the delightful, forbidden sensation of reading someone else's mail. Each piece is appealing to the poet and artist in everyone. #2 Sabine's Notebook, c1992 - The extraordinary correspondence of Griffin and Sabine continues. #3 The Golden Mean, c1993 - In this final trilogy volume, the mystery of the two artists deepens and their questions grow more urgent. New obstacles (including a sinister intruder) test the tenacity of their passion, and in each letter or postcard, painting and prose are even more richly intertwined. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

great looking very visually pleasing books
Books arrived in perfect condition. The whole set for just $10.00; fantastic! They have attracted the attention of my partner who is something of a reluctant reader. He keeps trying to guess the identity of the person at the center of the plot so the books have definitely held his interest. Can't comment on the content myself as I haven't read any of them yet. The author both designed and wrote the books; impressive.

Beautiful books
I received these as a gift, and what a delightful surprise.The unique and beautiful books were full of intrigue.Although these can easily be read in a few minutes, I found myself lingering, savoring, and trying to make the story last as long as possible.This was easy to do by exploring the artwork, and re-reading the letters.Great gift idea for someone who is looking for something out of the ordinary.

These books are exceptional, a must read.
Words fail me in description, the best I can do is wow. The story isenthralling, the art beautiful, and the story as original as can be. Iloved them.

Passing it on,...
After being introduced to these books in college, I also had to have them.Now that I'm teaching high school English, with a little censoring of language, my enthusiasm shows as they hear the story (and mystery) unfold.It makes them think, guess, hypothesize, get involved, even get angry!I left 35 ninth-graders speechless and hanging on every word!! Imagine that!!

A True Romantic's Love Story
I received the trilogypak for my birthday... I have previously read the books before, and I had to have them for myself.These books explore the dark and myterious world of 'what if' when it comes to romantic love.If you have ever felt that you have a soul matesomewhere in the world, and you felt that somehow, someway, they were with you, watching you,then these stories will enrapture and captivate your mind.This is a must read selection! ... Read more

Product Description
Practical and elegant, these inexpensive journals have an exposed wire-o binding and come with faintly lined pages perfect for recording your thoughts and dreams.

Visit griffinandsabine.com!. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Small Treasure
This is another of nick Bantock's gifts to dreamers. For designers, it's a solid interesting piece that is fully tactile. The story is short and amusing, and his art work is rich and colorful. I recommend this bookbox.

perfect paper
The cover makes a salior feel at home with the picture of a chart, but also makes a person remember the love of griffen and sabine.having the spiral makes it easier to right, no matter which hand is the strongest. the paper is heavy making it easy for either pictures, words, paintings, orany of the above.it is very reasonable in price for the quality ofjournal you will receive.i highly recommend capolan. ... Read more