(RUSCHA, Edward).

Grafiek en boeken van Ruscha (20 June-11 July 1971).

[4] leaves, printed on rectos only. Printed wrappers, leaves laid-in and loose as issued. Utrecht: Utrechtse Kring, 1971.

An extremely rare exhibition catalogue; held at the Utrechtse Kring, this was the third solo presentation of Ed Ruscha’s storied artist’s books at a European gallery. It followed shows at Heiner Friedrich in Munich (17 March-4 April 1970) and Nigel Greenwood Inc. Ltd. in London (7-30 January 1971). Neither Berggruen Gallery nor Gagosian (two of Ruscha’s main American galleries) list this show in their exhibition histories for the artist and presumably are not aware of it.

Ruscha (b. 1937) is introduced in the catalogue by the esteemed Dutch art historian Carel Blotkamp with an essay in Dutch. The show featured not just 12 of the artist’s books but also some of his earliest and most iconic prints, including Hollywood, Cheese Mold Standard, Mocha Standard, Anchovy, etc. The prices for the artist’s books are as follows (in guilders): Twentysix Gasoline Stations (18); Various Small Fires and Milk (18); Some Los Angeles Apartments (18); Every Building on the Sunset Strip (35); Royal Road Test (15); Thirtyfour Parking Lots in Los Angeles (18); Business Cards (50); Nine Swimming Pools and a Broken Glass (18); Crackers (23); Babycakes with Weights (n.t.k.); Real Estate Opportunities (18); and A Few Palm Trees (12).

An early Ruscha catalogue of the utmost rarity. Near fine; one corner with a small tear, not touching the text. We know of just a single copy in North America.