Something Else Press Catalogue No. 1

SOMETHING ELSE PRESS, Inc., publisher.

What to Look for in a Book — Physically & Catalogue 1965-66.

Black & white illus. 16 pp. (incl. wrappers). Small 4to (175 x 136 mm.), orig. white printed wrappers, staple-bound. [New York: 1966?].

The very rare first Something Else Press catalogue. Founded by Dick Higgins, the press published and distributed an array of innovative American and European artists’ books. This catalogue opens with an article on book design and its limitations, as well as examples of attractive and structurally sound bookbindings. The article concludes: “We are not interested in built-in obsolescence. We want our books to be as fresh ten years from now as they are today, and as much of a joy to behold.” This is followed by a listing of the press’s publications (with several photographs of the artists), including works by Robert Filliou, Alison Knowles, Al Hansen, Dick Higgins, Ray Johnson, and Daniel Spoerri.

In near fine condition, spine a little sunned.

❧ P. Frank, Something Else Press (1983), pp. 7 & 81. Not in A. Desjardin, The Book on Books on Artists Books (2nd ed.: 2013).

P. Frank, p. 1–“It was the first publishing house in the United States to devote itself to what are now called “artists’ books” — integral artworks designed for publication and distribution in traditional book formats — and the scope and importance of its activities have not been equalled since. In the history of small presses, especially in America, the Something Else Press remains extraordinary, if not unique, in its combination of high-quality trade formats, well-crafted printing and assembling, and broad distribution methods.”

For a personal (and lighthearted) account of the Something Else Press, see Barbara Moore’s post on the website of the Black Mountain College Museum & Arts Center (republished from the 1991 Granary Books brochure for the exhibition Something Else Press)–“Dick’s and my duties were distinct. During my tenure he chose all the titles, took care of design and production (he had previously done these jobs for a book manufacturer), and handled finances. After all, as Emmett Williams pointed out, ‘It was…Dick’s money.’ In line with his book manufacturing experience, he made elaborate cost projections that determined, for example, that the price of Ray Johnson’s The Paper Snake had to be exactly $3.47.”.

Price: $750.00

Item ID: 7122