A Rare Masterpiece created by Ivan Clarke.
Discover the ultimate collector’s treasure from New Zealand artist Ivan Clarke – the Alveridgea Platinum Almalogue.This hand-crafted, bespoke artist’s book is a stunning portal into the whimsical world of Lonely Dog (Arthur Snout) – the dapper, music-loving underdog who rose from the Houndside Orphanage to stardom in the charming 1950s seaside town of Port Alveridge.
Only 95 examples will ever exist. Each is individually signed and numbered by Ivan Clarke and includes a unique, one-of-a-kind original Lonely Dog pencil drawing on archival watercolour paper, making every copy utterly singular.A True Work of ArtMeasuring 340 x 460 x 50mm and weighing 4.3kg, the Platinum Almalogue is presented in a custom hand-antiqued 1860-era American Heart Oak display box. Its magnificent leather-embossed cover features sculpted medallion and corner pieces by the legendary Wētā Workshop (Academy Award® winners behind The Lord of the Rings and Avatar). Inside are 202 pages of exquisite tipped-in colour plates, original writings, pencil sketches, and charming “found” Alveridgean ephemera – including aged newspaper clippings, postcards, posters, maps, and memorabilia. Created in masterful collaboration with author Stu Duval, creative pioneer Graham Burt, and Wētā Workshop, and meticulously hand-bound with museum-grade materials, this is a sculptural fine art object and a complete immersive experience.From the Producer“This book has been a labour of love from beginning to end. As we turned the final proofs, the team couldn’t stop reaching out to touch the sharp embossing, stroke the leather cover, and feel the heft of the oak box. It was then I realised there was another story to tell – the hidden craftsmanship behind every detail.
”Graham Burt"
Executive Producer
The Creation and ProductionEvery element was crafted with extraordinary care for just 95 copies:
- Printed individually on premium Cabaret Britewhite paper from Japan using vegetable-oil inks, with multiple passes to create authentic ageing (“foxing”). Complex pages required up to four passes.
- Page one features stunning multi-level embossing. Art plates are printed on acid-free felt paper with museum-grade longevity.
- Inserts were deliberately aged over two months – faded in the sun, walked on, stained, and handled to look authentically “found” in Alveridgea.
- Each Almalogue includes a unique original pencil sketch by Ivan Clarke on archival watercolour paper, hand-deckled and protected.
- The cover uses hand-stained pigskin leather with large-scale debossing and castings by Wētā Workshop.
- Endpapers are hand-marbled using Irish Carrageenan. The rare side-stitched binding, hand-made headbands, and traditional techniques were executed by master bookbinder Matthew Hinman at Cover to Cover, Christchurch.
Born from Ivan Clarke’s celebrated Lonely Dog Legacy Collection (over 200 original artworks, none for sale), the Platinum Almalogue is the pinnacle of this internationally acclaimed phenomenon. Previous limited editions have sold out quickly and appreciated strongly on the secondary market.
This heirloom-quality piece is perfect for private collectors, investors, museums and galleries. It includes a signed Certificate of Authenticity and is available exclusively through our website.
Own a Piece of the LegendWith only 95 in existence worldwide, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own a genuine masterpiece from one of New Zealand’s most imaginative artists.
