“The Equipment is Evenly Distributed,” a woodcut by Gustave Baumann, from Pirates!, or, The Cruise of the Black Revenge, written by Kendall Banning (1879-1944), and published in Chicago by the Brothers of the Book in 1916.
Brothers of the Book, formed in 1898 by Laurence C. Woodworth, produced privately printed books in small runs for its subscribers, featuring beautiful type and graphics, and hand-made papers. Pirates! is one of two books by Brothers of the Book to remain in the Glessner library, although John Glessner likely owned others.
Gustave Baumann (1881-1971) was a German-born American printmaker and painter, and a leader in the woodcut revival in the United States. Although the woodcuts in Pirates! are printed in bold black ink on cream-colored paper, Baumann is remember today for his richly colored woodcuts, many depicting the American West. He lived and worked in Sante Fe, New Mexico for more than fifty years.
To learn more about Brothers of the Book and Pirates!, read our “Object of the Month” for March 2026 by clicking here.