Two illus. Green coated paper with three folds. [Paris: A L’Etoile Scellée, 1954].

A very rare exhibition announcement from A L’Etoile Scellée, the art gallery directed by André Breton. Located on rue du Pré aux Clercs in the 7th arrondissement, the gallery served as an influential center of Surrealism from 1952 to 1956. Thanks to financing by the gallerist Sophie Babet, Breton was able to launch a bold program, inviting young abstract and Surrealist artists.

This invitation, with a checklist of the 24 works exhibited, advertises Falzoni’s (1925-98) solo show. It also features a text by Robert Benayoun, “L’Oasis,”... More

Many black & white illus. 10 folded newsprint sheets (489 x 330 mm. unfolded). [San Francisco]: October 2008.

Steven Leiber’s rare catalogue for the third iteration of the New York Art Book Fair, in 2008. His 49th catalogue imitates the first issue of Hans-Peter Feldmann’s periodical Image (1979). The first four leaves and the final four are illustrated with numbered images corresponding to the materials described on the middle two leaves. The catalogue presents publications and ephemera by or related to Abramovic, Acconci, Baldessari, Boltanski, Feldmann, General Idea, Huebler, Kusama, Matta-Clark, Messager, Nauman, Pettibone, Richter, Ruppersberg, Ruscha, Ulay, Wool, etc. A total of 104 items... More

Many text illus. 86 pp. Large 4to, printed semi-stiff wrappers. London: 1970.

An important exhibition catalogue that is now scarce. This was an impressive survey of artists’ multiples undertaken by the Arts Council. The catalogue begins with essays by Janet Daley, Karl Gerstner, Reyner Banham, Jiddu Krishnamurti, and Anthony Wedgwood Benn, along with a reprinting of John Berger’s “Love of art”. A handful of books and book objects were featured, including the work of Ruscha, Samaras, Ulrichs, and Vostell. Two Beuys entries The chief and How to explain paintings to a dead hare (on p. 21) are included “free with this catalogue.”... More

Many black & white, full-bleed illus. Unpaginated. 4to, printed stiff wrappers, plastic spiral bound. Paris: 2007.

A very rare bookseller-exhibition catalogue. It closely mimics Seth Siegelaub’s 5-31 January, 1969 exhibition catalogue. A fine range of artists’ books and photobooks are offered (without prices), including work by Acconci, Baldessari, Barry, Calle, Christo, Feldmann, Graham, LeWitt, Messager, Monk, Nauman, Pierson, Ruscha, Ulay, Sugimoto, Warhol, Wool, etc. Most of the items are illustrated. “Thanks to sjleib” is printed on the final page, indicating that Steven Leiber played some part in the compilation of this catalogue.

Near fine copy; extremities the slightest bit worn. More

Paper cutout in the shape of two hands. [Paris: A L’Etoile Scellée, 1953].

The scarce and delightful invitation — in the shape of two hands — for a Toyen exhibition held at A L’Etoile Scellée in May 1953. Managed by André Breton, the gallery was financially supported by the gallerist Sophie Babet. Located on rue du Pré aux Clercs in the 7th arrondissement, the gallery served as an influential center of Surrealism from 1952 to 1956. Breton was responsible for a bold program, inviting unheralded abstract and Surrealist artists.

Toyen (1902-80), born Marie Cermínová, was one of the earliest Surrealists in Czechoslovakia, and from 1935 developed a close relationship with Breton. For much of their life, Toyen preferred the gender-neutral name “Toyen,” taken from the French citoyen. They had two solo exhibitions at A L’Etoile Scellée; this piece marks the first, and the second took place in May 1955. Galerie Denise René had given them their first postwar solo show in June-July 1947. More

29 leaves & a number of blanks. Large 8vo (267 x 190 mm.), orig. semi-stiff wrappers. From the Preface: “Kyoto: January 1800.”

The Preface is signed by Jungo Kato, whose grandfather must have been a well-recognized Kyoto physician. Presumably, he was also named Kato. We learn here that the grandson regularly received disciples who wanted to gain the secret medical knowledge which had been passed down from his grandfather. Because of the precious nature of this knowledge, it was prohibited to reveal any of it to outsiders unless the recipient was a direct descendant of the disciple or a close family member.

There follows 108 entries of the names of disciples who came to Kato in Kyoto to receive instruction in this knowledge. The visiting dates range from 1802 to 1834. The regions or towns of the disciples are given and, for some, their medical affiliation is provided. The visiting doctors’ home towns ranged throughout the main island and Kyushu. For almost all the entries, the hand-written seal of the doctor is added. More

Many illus. 77 pp. & ads. 4to, orig. pictorial wrappers, upper wrapper by C. Andre, staple-bound. New York: 1977.

A celebrated issue of the intrepid New York newsprint art magazine, which ran from 1973 to 1978. This issue was devoted to the subject of “artists’ books” and introduced many to the then embryonic concept. It opens with an “Idea Poll” that solicited responses to the relevance and potential of artists’ books. Responses from Acker, Baldessari, Carrion, Buren, Denes, Hoffberg, Huebler, Kaprow, Kostelanetz, LeWitt, Lippard, Nannucci, Piper, Schneemann, Steir, Tuttle, Weiner, are recorded. They project a mix of optimism and fatalism about the future... More

Many black & white illus. 173, [9] pp. Oblong 4to (291 x 221 mm.), orig. pictorial covers (spine a bit creased). Tehran: [1978].

An important exhibition catalogue, and rare example of a show of artists’ books that took place outside of the United States of America or Western Europe. This show was staged at the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art in affiliation with the Shabhanou Farah Foundation. The great collector of artists’ books and book objects Rolf Dittmar composed the catalogue’s text in German, which is then presented in parallel English and Persian text. It was translated from German into English by Thekla Zachrau, and the... More

Black & white illus. & folding map laid-in. [24] pp. 4to, orig. gray wrappers, pictorial end-papers, staple-bound. Bremen: 1993.

Uncommon exhibition catalogue on Downsbrough’s books. With an essay by Guy Schraenen, biography of the artist, and exhibition history at the end. The folding map of the exhibition is present.

Near fine; slightest wear to the extremities. From an edition of 1000 copies. More

Fine calligraphic lithographed presentation title to Otto, King of Greece; manuscript dedication leaf; four leaves containing 48 gilt-edged mounted silk swatches; 83 manuscript leaves describing the machine & weaving techniques, with depictions of different weaving effects, 12 gilt-edged mounted silk swatches along with representations of the punched cards for each swatch, & five full-page diagrams of the Jacquard machine & the machine to produce the cards; and a final section of 46 weaving patterns, each drawn on thin card with grids, laid-down, many on large folding sheets (as large as 570 x 870 mm.), many with silk swatches & captions... More

Title printed in red & black. 7 p.l., 104 pp. Small 4to, cont. vellum over boards. Leipzig: T. Schürer, 1614.

[bound after]:

—. Güldenes Kleinod menschlicher Gesundheit: Darinnen die Lehr von des menschen Gesundheit, als welche unter andern Gütern und Kleinodien dieser Welt das allerfürtrefflichste ist, weitleufftig erkläret… Title printed in red & black. 20 p.l. (of 21?), 879, [7] pp. Small 4to. Leipzig: Z. Schürer, 1626. More

13 columns per page, 18 characters per column. 43; 49; 55 folding leaves. Three vols. 8vo (279 x 195 mm.), orig. wrappers stained dark brown with fermented persimmon juice to prevent worming (nevertheless wrappers a little wormed, with careful repairs), cont. manuscript title labels, with “Kongen” written on each cover, new stitching. [Japan]: ca. 1630-40.

A rare movable type edition, unrecorded by Kawase or WorldCat. Sorimachi, in his wonderful Catalogue 42 (1972) of movable type books, describes a copy (item 419) and gives a date of “mid-Kan’ei” (ca. 1630-40). In his description, Sorimachi states that the full title of this work is Jippunimon Kongensho or Jufunimon Kongensho... More