Moon Pringles

Narcisse: a Bacchante, 1911

Edward Gorey Birthday Anniversary Feathursday

Today, Feburary 22, is Edward Gorey’s birthday anniversary. He would have been 93 today. We are celebrating this anniversary along with Feathursday by showing one of the few birds depicted in Gorey’s work: the rare but friendly Osbick Bird. Emblus Fingby welcomed the Osbick Bird into his home. The time they spent together was special in spite of the occasional argument. They were steadfast friends until the demise of Emblus Fingby when after an appropriate mourning period the Osbick Bird moved on.

Our images of The Osbick Bird come from Amphigorey Too the second of four anthologies of Gorey’s work. The Osbick Bird first appeared in 1970 as part of a collection of three books published by Fantod Press, Gorey’s own imprint. It was the second set of books put out by Gorey’s press: the first appeared in 1966.

There have been several different publishers of Edward Gorey’s books. Gorey tended not to stick with one for too long because they would direct him to produce content that was more marketable. Gorey wasn’t opposed to making money for his work, but he would prefer to do what he wanted and not be directed. For that reason he started publishing his own work under the Fantod Press imprint. With Fantod Press he was able to experiment with different forms and styles. 

View our other Edward Gorey posts.

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