Planetary Series — Complete Boxed Set (A Contemporary Codex)

Planetary Series is a limited-edition box set of ten letterpress prints that invites tactile and visual exploration of our solar system. Conceived as a contemporary codex, the series reinterprets planetary bodies through layered imagery, color, and form. Each print resonates with its celestial counterpart’s essence. Drawing on NASA photography and the visual language of mid-century science texts, the series bridges scientific observation and poetic interpretation through traditional letterpress printing.

Each print was designed from my original illustrations and printed by hand on a mid-century Vandercook press. Every impression required multiple passes ranging from eight to fifteen to achieve the rich tonal depth and precise registration that define the series. The works are printed on 100% cotton Cranes Lettra using soy-based inks in custom-mixed colors corresponding to each planet or moon.

The complete set includes ten prints: Mercury, Venus with Cloud Cover, Earth, Moon, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto, plus a foiled title page and a letterpress-printed colophon. Each print is numbered, signed, and housed in a custom archival box designed to reflect the codex-like concept of the project. The set is a tactile archive of our solar system rendered in paper, ink, and impression.

Every set carries subtle variations inherent to fine letterpress printing, emphasizing the individuality within the unity of the whole.

Details
• Eleven letterpress prints total: ten planetary prints plus foiled title page and letterpress colophon
• Paper size: nine of the planet prints measure 12 × 16 inches; Saturn, the foiled title page, and the colophon measure 16 × 18 inches
• Printed on 100% cotton Cranes Lettra paper and soy inks
• Custom archival box included
• Edition limited to 30, each print signed
• Ships flat or boxed, carefully packaged for protection

All artwork and images © Modern Optic / Wavelength Press.