JUNIPER VON PHITZER

Juniper Von Phitzer is the imprint and pen name of Lloyd L. Neilson of San Francisco, California. He combined the names of his three cats to create this imprint. Neilson designs and letterpress prints his books. His miniature books are often filled with illustrations of the type ornaments he collects. While he bound many of his books, he also had many bound by Reliure d’Art du Centre of Limoges, France. (Bradbury 108)

A bibliography of Juniper Von Phitzer miniature books by Robert F. Orr Hanson was published in 1999: see Opuscula Press.

Artist’s Statement: “Juniper Von Phitzer Press began in 1976 and our first miniature book, A Latin Abecedarian, appeared in 1985. Juniper Von Phitzer (alias Lloyd L. Neilson) heads the press and is the intrepid Master Printer. Lloyd and I work together and separately on various texts and designs: the interior illustrations, difficult to plot on a small scale and a major challenge to print since certain pages go through the press seven or more times, and the unique cover designs for which the books are noted. I perform and write poetry and humorous fiction and also publish ‘normal’ size books and periodicals, but I love to appear in miniature format. It is a tremendous challenge to create with the smallest brush strokes something that is clear and beautiful and sometimes – almost monumental.”

Marvin R. Hiemstra, for The Art of the Miniature Book, Selections from the Library of Alden Jacobs, an exhibit held September 23, 1999-November 24, 1999, Special Collections & University Archives, Alexander Library, Rutgers University.