[27] stained leaves. Square 4to (116 x 116 mm.), loose as issued(?). [Czech Republic: Self-published, “1970”].

Scarce book by Kocman (b. 1947), a Czech conceptual book artist; not recorded in WorldCat. In the early 1970s, the artist frequently employed planaxol to observe its interaction with the leaves of a book. Kocman’s initials and the title are rubber-stamped on the first leaf and he has signed and dated the second leaf in red ink. “149” is stamped in a corner of the second leaf.

From the preface, written by Jírí Valoch, in J | H | Kocman: Artists’ Books and Papers... More

94 fine paintings in color in the text. 20; 21 folding leaves. Two vols. Oblong 8vo (205 x 290 mm.), orig. wrappers, stitched as issued. [Japan]: based on the zodiac sign on the outside of the lower wrapper of the first volume, these manuscripts were copied in either 1725, 1749, 1785, 1809, 1845, or 1869 (we think it is mid- to late Edo).

Two fascinating and well-illustrated Japanese manuscripts based on the precepts of Chinese physiognomy, which has a long history both in medicine and in predicting fortunes. The inside of the upper wrapper of the first volume contains a.... More

Japan: late Edo or early Meiji.

A minutely carved woodblock, in fine condition, depicting at the top center the goddess of mercy, Senju Kannon (Sanskrit: Sahasrabhujasahasranetravalokitesvara), the “1,000-Armed Kannon,” seated on lotus petals. She has four pairs of arms holding an arrow, a bow, a trident, and the Golden Wheel, along with other objects.

Below and on her sides are two of the Seven Lucky Gods: Daikokuten, the god of commerce and prosperity, and Bishamonten, the god of fortune in war and battles. Beneath them are many disciples presenting offerings.

At the bottom is carved the name “Toeizan Shinobazu no... More

Japan: late Edo or early Meiji.

A most curious woodblock, in very fine condition, probably intended to be a mandala. The outer corners are renderings of the four guardian kings, who establish sacred space, with each one representing one of the cardinal directions. The remainder of the outer border depicts each king’s implements (noose, axe, sword, etc.). At the center is a figure of the goddess of mercy, Senju Kannon (Sanskrit: Sahasrabhujasahasranetravalokitesvara), the “1,000-Armed Kannon,” seated on lotus petals. She has four pairs of arms holding swords, axes, tridents, etc.

The surrounding text is in an Indic script, minutely carved... More

33 folding double-page woodcut illus. 8vo, oblong orihon (accordion format), orig. blue patterned wrappers, remains of block-printed title label on upper cover. [Sun’yo (today’s Shizuoka): 1822].

First edition of this very beautiful book, with 33 extremely subtle double-page woodcuts depicting Mt. Fuji, the most beautiful and solitary of all mountains, in various times of the year and in different states of weather. This is a complex book, and we find in our investigations of other copies, each one demonstrates considerable variations.

“Sano Shinkei, ‘True Pictures of the King of Mountains’, with prints after drawings by Myoo Shuga [Hillier makes a.... More

36; 19; 20; 27; 37; 31 folding leaves, neatly interleaved throughout. Ten juan in five vols., plus one vol. of commentary by Dunren Zhang. 8vo, modern blue wrappers, new stitching. [China]: 1807.

A rare and important edition of this notable text; the sixth volume contains the valuable commentary and notes of Dunren Zhang (1754-1834), Qing scholar, mathematician, historian, and book collector.

After the death of Emperor Wu in 87 B.C., his successor summoned to the capital scholars from throughout the empire to discuss the most important problems of the day. Emperor Wu had “implemented a series of centralized economic measures... More

Black & white illus. throughout. [24] pp. Tall 8vo, printed wrappers. Arles: Le Méjan/Actes Sud, 1989.

Scarce Christian Boltanski (1944-2021) artist’s book published on the occasion of his exhibition at the Eglise Saint-Martin du Méjan d’Arles (3 July-3 September 1989). From the preface (in trans.): “These images were cut out from a 1972 weekly specialized in criminal news stories; they inexorably present the mixed faces, murderers or victims, of these forgotten dramas."

Fine.

❧ Jennifer Flay, ed., Christian Boltanski — Catalogue: Books, Printed Matter, Ephemera 1966-1991 (1992), pp. 186-87.

Bob Calle, ed., Christian Boltanski: Livres d’Artiste, 1969-2007 (2008), p. 61. More

57 black & white illus. [64] pp. 8vo, orig. printed wrappers, staple-bound. Cologne: Galerie Gisela Capitain, 1989.

Scarce Martin Kippenberger (1953-97) artist’s book, from an edition of ca. 500-800 copies. It was published in conjunction with the artist’s exhibition Die Hamburger Hängung. Umzüge 1957-1988. Fallende Flüge [Hamburger Hanging. Removals 1957-1988. Falling Flights] (20 January-18 February 1989).

“This artist book contains reproductions of drawings (oil crayon, lead pencil, ballpoint pen and Tipp-ex on invoices of the Bahia Othon Palace Hotel, Salvador BA, from the years 1986-1988) of the floor plans of all the premises in which Martin Kippenberger had worked and... More

Many illus. (2 in color). [20] pp. 4to, yellow pictorial wrappers, staple-bound. Aachen: Neue Galerie Sammlung Ludwig, 1983.

An early and rare Kippenberger exhibition catalogue. We locate just a handful of examples in American institutions; and though it is not recorded on WorldCat, the Museum of Modern Art (NY) also has a copy. Koch estimates that it was made in an edition of ca. 800 copies.

“Song of Joy was published to accompany a group exhibition by Martin Kippenberger (‘gemalte bilder’ [painted images]) and his friend, the photographer and collector Wilhelm Schürmann [b. 1946] (‘Fotografierte Bilder’ [photographed images]) at the... More

Unpaginated. Square 4to (158 x 162 mm.), printed softcover, title on spine. Frankfurt: Portikus; Rotterdam: Witte de With, Center for Contemporary Art, 1993.

Rare Stanley Brouwn (1935-2017) artist’s book co-published by Portikus and the Witte de With, Center for Contemporary Art; unknown edition size. We locate only a handful of copies in American institutions.

In this publication, Brouwn multiplies meters, ells, steps, and feet on each page, and converts them to centimeters. It was produced on the occasion of the 1993 Frankfurter Buchmesse.

Very good copy; large diagonal crease to the lower cover and a smaller one to the upper... More

13 black & white illustrations. [16] pp. Oblong 8vo, pictorial wrappers, staple-bound. Graz: Galerie Bleich-Rossi, 1991.

Rare Martin Kippenberger (1953-97) exhibition catalogue, it records the installation of the show at Galerie Bleich-Rossi by the artist’s students. This catalogue’s design imitates that of an earlier Kippenberger publication, Schwarz Brot Gold (1990), but is printed on alternating blue and light gray paper. We find just two copies in North America: SF-MoMA and the Museum of Modern Art (NY).

“In 1991 Kippenberger was visiting professor at the Städel Art School in Frankfurt. Give Me a Hand is a catalogue with snapshots showing the... More

Leporello Moleskine notebook (143 x 95 mm.) with highly detailed ink drawings throughout, ink logo on upper cover. New York: 2020.

The artist’s Journal of Evidence Weekly (J.E.W.) series began in late 1998. Since then, Wilner (b. 1959) has documented his daily travels on the subway by filling almost two hundred Moleskine notebooks with his impressions and caricatures of fellow commuters. The present volume captures the artist’s subway trips in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Wilner’s ongoing ‘Journal of Evidence Weekly’ offers an illustrated compendium of the artist’s travels around New York City. Contained within a dense network... More