62 pp. Large 4to (273 x 211 mm.), orig. pictorial wrappers, staple-bound. Toronto: 1991.

A rare bookseller’s catalogue, with the cover designed by Gary Neill Kennedy. It offers an extensive range of artists’ bookworks, exhibition catalogues, multiples, audio works, video works, and periodicals.

Fine copy of an important document relating to the North American distribution of artists’ publications. More

310 black & white illus., on rectos only. [24] leaves. 8vo (210 x 141 mm.), orig. semi-stiff printed wrappers, perfect-bound. Paris: CNAC, 1974.

First edition, an excellent copy of Boltanski’s fifth inventory, documenting all the earthly possessions of a randomly selected person, this time a resident from Bois-Colombes, a suburb of Paris. This book was published for an exhibition (15 October to 2 December 1974) at the Centre national d’art contemporain. Earlier versions of this piece took place in Baden-Baden, Jerusalem, Oxford, and Copenhagen.

Boltanski explains the intention of this work in the Avant-Propos (in trans.): “The inventory of objects belonging to a woman from Bois-Colombes is... More

1 p.l., ii, 34 pp. 8vo (213 x 136 mm.), late 19th-cent. marbled boards, leather lettering-piece on spine. Paris: Lacoste & Pérignon, 1817.

A very scarce sale catalogue dispersing paintings, drawings, and curiosities from the collection and inventory of Pérignon (1785-1864), the dealer, collector, and advisor to the Louvre. Pérignon was one of the eminent dealers to succeed Lebrun and Paillet after their deaths. The first recorded sale for which he was the expert took place in December 1813 (Lugt 8456). He went on to administer the important auctions of Hubert Robert’s widow, Girodet, Dominique-Vivant Denon, and two for Jacques Louis David. The Louvre... More

201 black & white illus on rectos only. [207] leaves. Thick oblong 4to (210 x 242 mm.), orig. cloth, title on spine. Berlin: Edition Block, 1978.

First edition of this scarce artist’s book documenting On Kawara’s telegrams affirming “I am still alive”; this is one of 450 numbered copies from Serie A, all of which are bound in cloth and housed in a slipcase. Arranged chronologically and reproduced at their original size, the telegrams of this project were sent from December 1969 until 31 December 1977. We find messages sent to Dorothy and Herbert Vogel, Teresa O’Connor, Germano Celant, Adriaan van Ravesteijn, Yutaka Matsuzawa, Tommaso Trini... More

Trans. by Kiyojiro Kawamoto. 62 woodcut illus. 55; 54 folding leaves. Two vols. Small 8vo, orig. green wrappers, orig. block-printed title labels on upper covers (one label a little defective), new stitching. [Edo]: Seishudo, 1867.

First edition in Japanese (1st ed., in Dutch: 1864, with the title Handleiding tot de Paardenkennis), translated by Kiyojiro Kawamoto, a high government official. He was the son of Komin Kawamoto (1810-71), who is known as the “father of chemistry” in Japan, for his translations and writings on Western science and technology (he also was the first to brew beer in Japan). Both were Rangaku scholars and medical doctors... More

Many black & white illus. 30 pp. (incl. inside wrappers). 8vo (215 x 140 mm.), photocopied wrappers, staple-bound. New York: 2003.

A scarce exhibition catalogue-cum-bookseller catalogue designed by the artist Tom Sachs in zine form. It was published in conjunction with his 2003 exhibition “Tom Sachs Approved” (22 November-23 December) at Printed Matter. There are listings of his early zines and miscellaneous merchandise.

In pristine condition. More

Black & white frontis. Unpaginated. Large 4to, orig. printed wrappers, staple-bound. Toronto: 1986.

A scarce bookseller’s catalogue of artists’ books and publications. Founded in 1974 by General Idea, Art Metropole was the first large-scale North American distributor of this kind of material. The present catalogue, printed in an edition of 2500 copies, was designed as a work by the artist Ian Murray (b. 1951), and contains hundreds of entries. The compilers have denoted “bookworks” — their preferred term for artists’ books — with a black square next to the listings. This catalogue presents an impressive and vast array of materials, including video and audio works.

Near fine copy, the spine is a trifle sunned. A few pencil notes in the text. More

Black & white illus. on the inside wrappers and in the text, and map of Printed Matter store on lower cover. 48 pp. Large 8vo, color printed semi-stiff wrappers (bottom wrapper slightly worn), staple bound. [New York: Printed Matter, 1979].

An early and rare Printed Matter catalogue describing almost 2000 titles. Much of the catalogue is devoted to artists’ books along with sections for Printed Matter publications, magazines, and audioworks.

From the preface, likely composed by the then director Nancy Linn: “Printed Matter, Inc. opened its doors in 1976 as an Artists’ Book publishing company and distribution house. The first organization devoted solely to... More

Many black & white illus. in the text. 54 pp. & order forms and ads. 8vo (205 x 135 mm.), semi-stiff pictorial wrappers (corners a little creased), staple-bound. New York: 1992.

A scarce Printed Matter mail-order catalogue. Opens with an Introduction by director John Goodwin who writes: “While our primary goal remains the sale of artists publications through our store and mail-order catalog, we continue our efforts to increase the understanding and appreciation of these works by means of occasional small-scale exhibitions in our store.”

The catalogue lists works by Barbara Bloom, Cage, Dan Graham, Jenny Holzer, Faith Ringgold, etc., etc. The rest of the catalogue... More

Black & white illus. in the text. 28 pp., order form on lower inside wrapper. 8vo, semi-stiff pictorial wrappers, staple bound. [New York]: 1987.

Begins with an introduction by Lucy Lippard, in which she offers updates on the organization of Printed Matter and the future of their catalogues. This catalogue is the first of a smaller format to feature an essay; the inaugural piece is by Gary Indiana, entitled “Post Photography.”

This catalogue then describes new and featured bookworks by artists such as Sarah Charlesworth, Andrea Fraser, Allan Sekula, Richard Prince, Laurie Simmons, Susan King, Spiegelman, Ellen Wallenstein, etc. Each of the books... More

Many illus. in the text. 88 pp. & ads and order form. 8vo (210 x 135 mm.), semi-stiff pictorial wrappers (spine a bit worn), staple-bound. [New York]: 1995.

This catalogue, addressed to Steven Leiber, begins with an Introduction by director David Dean much more cheerful than the previous year’s. He also mentions exhibitions and talks which have occurred in the past year. This is followed by a listing of fundraising “Artists’ Projects” by Baldessari, Cindy Sherman, Kiki Smith, Kippenberger, Andres Serrano, Barbara Bloom, and Yoko Ono. Cynthia Chris has written the catalogue’s essay, entitled “It’s A Whole New World: Recent Trends in Artists’ Publications.” As... More

Many woodcut illus. 159 folding leaves. Five parts in one vol. Oblong 8vo, orig. dark blue thick wrappers (wrappers rubbed), orig. block-printed title label on upper cover (label rubbed & soiled), orig. stitching. Kyoto, Edo, & Osaka: Hishiya magobei et al., 1859.

A late Japanese edition of one of the earliest Chinese collections of texts on horse medicine. Our book stems from a “late 14th-century compilation [which] does contain genuine works from earlier times. This is the Simu anji ji (Collections for Pacifying Stallions when Administering Flocks), published in 1384. Judging from internal evidence, most of its components are apparently from the 11th and... More