I bought two books this week that I already have an unhealthy attachment to. Both are published by Lubok Verlag, a boutique German publisher that prints each edition from the original cuts on a “Präsident” cylinder printing press from 1958. There are no reproductions inside the books - each page of each book is totally unique. Mine are pictured above.

Lubok 2 is the second in an ongoing series of strictly limited edition art books, this edition numbering just 500. To create the books, each artist’s work is printed sequentially on one metres-long section of paper which is then folded like a concertina before being bound. My highlight is Tom Fabritius’ section, which showcases his linocuts of urban scenescapes. Multi-storey car parks, night highways and dark, close interiors are all evoked beautifully and with surprising subtlety (in my ignorance), given the medium.

Lubok: Tierlein (Little Creatures) is from a collection of special books which feature the work of just one artist - in this case Volker Pfüller. It’s a day-glo menagerie brimming with character, and the pallete ranges from shockingly vivid primaries to more subtle pastels. Again, I’m a newcomer to original linocut prints so i’m just stunned by how skillfully the textures the process offers have been used in this book. If you find a Lubok book, buy it.