36 pp. Small 8vo (170 x 105 mm.), late 19th-century brown morocco-backed marbled boards, spine gilt. Paris: Chariot & Joullain, 1775.

A scarce priced auction catalogue, which is, according to the Getty Provenance database, incorrectly attributed by Lugt (and the inscription on the present book’s title-page) to Lempereur (1701-79), a Parisian jeweler — not to be confused with his son, the collector Jean Baptiste Denis (1726-96). This anonymous sale very probably consisted of the estate of a man with a similar surname (see Lugt Marques, 1740). A contemporary annotator has added all prices.

The catalogue describes 252 lots, including 18... More

126 pp. 8vo (195 x 130 mm.), late 19th-cent. blue sheep-backed marbled boards, spine gilt. Paris: Lebrun, 1788.

A rare auction catalogue, priced throughout in a contemporary hand, of a formidable collection of paintings. Although Lugt attributes this to Montesquiou (1739-98), it seems that most of the lots did not belong to him. Jean Baptiste Pierre Lebrun (1748-1813), this sale’s expert, was known to add his inventory and lesser consignments to prestigious sales for which he was responsible. Montesquiou, member of the Académie Française and a general, was close to many of the physiocrats.

The present catalogue describes 276 lots... More

20 pp. 8vo (198 x 125 mm.), modern aubergine cloth (head of spine a little worn), title on upper cover. Paris: Félix & Regnault-Delalande, 1822.

An extremely rare auction catalogue inventorying the collection of an obscure painter active at the turn of the century. A contemporary annotator has written in the surname for this anonymous sale on the title-page, corroborating Lugt’s attribution. An 1817 almanac of Paris records a painter with the same surname working at rue de Rohan, 6. Viglianis also exhibited a landscape at the 1814 Salon — no. 948 in the exhibition livret.

184 lots, consisting primarily... More

Dont la Vente commencera le 4 Mars 1756. vi, 63 pp. 8vo, cont. vellum over boards, single gilt fillet round sides, flat spine gilt, gilt wheat sheaves in five of the compartments, red morocco lettering piece on spine. Paris: G. Martin & P.G. Simon, 1756.

[bound with]:

(SIREJACOB, J.A.J.). Catalogue d’une très-belle Collection d’Estampes, de Rubens, Van Dyck, Jordaens, Teniers, Callot & autres fameux Maîtres Italiens, François & Flamands. Assemblées depuis longues Années, & Délaissées par Monsieur J.A.J. Sirejacob, Ecuyer. Qui se Vendront…a Bruxelles, Lundi le 27. Août 1764. & jours suivans… 1 p.l., 76 pp. 8vo. Brussels: H.V. Lemincks, [1764]... More

Engraved allegorical frontis. 1 p.l., vi, 93 pp. 8vo, attractive antique calf-backed marbled boards, spine gilt, red morocco lettering piece on spine. N.p.: 1751.

First edition. Bachaumont (1690-1771) was an influential noble who grew up at the court of Versailles during the height of its significance as the political and cultural nucleus of France. He frequented the salons of Paris and was entangled in several controversies, one in particular regarding a journal filled with gossip ascertained at the salon of Madame Doublet de Persan, for which he may have been partially responsible. By the end of his life, he was... More

Black & white illus. throughout. [30] pp. (incl. inside of wrappers). 4to (274 x 214 mm.), orig. printed wrappers, staple-bound. New York: 1976.

Scarce and essential early documentation of Fluxus materials and artists’ books. This is the first catalogue issued by Backworks, a New York-based collaboration between Barbara Moore and Jon Hendricks, specializing in documents and artifacts of avant-garde and experimental art. Located at 488 Greenwich Street, the store was active into the early 1980s. In 1981, Hendricks left the partnership to become curator of the Fluxus collection formed by Gilbert and Lila Silverman (now at the Museum of Modern... More

Author port. on inside of upper cover and 26 black & white illus. (several double-page). 95 pp. 12mo (169 x 120 mm.), geometric softcover, title on spine. Berlin: Merve Verlag, 1983.

First edition, Merve Verlag’s scarce translation of Roland Barthes’s important writings on Cy Twombly. One of a handful of Merve publications on art history, most of its books were devoted to philosophy and radical political theory.

The first essay, “Non multa sed multum,” was originally published in Vol. VI of Yvon Lambert’s Twombly works on paper catalogue raisonné which came out in 1979. “Weisheit der Kunst” [“The Wisdom of... More

Large illustrated single sheet poster (420 x 300 mm. unfolded). [Lund, Sweden]: Beau Geste Press, 1976.

An extremely rare poster issued by Beau Geste Press for an exhibition at the Galerie S:t Petri in Lund, Sweden; one of 500 copies produced. Managed by Felipe Ehrenberg, Martha Hellion, and David Mayor, Beau Geste Press, based in Devon, UK, was active from 1970 to 1976. The press collaborated with numerous artists and authors, all of whom are listed on this poster: Beuys, Carrión, Filliou, Gibbs, Higgins, Hompson, Kostelanetz, Maciunas, Saito, Schneemann, Shiomi, Valoch, etc., etc. For example, two of Ulises Carrión’s bookworks... More

Engraved frontis. port. & one engraved plate. 32 pp. 8vo, attractive antique calf-backed marbled boards, spine gilt, red morocco lettering-piece on spine. Paris: “Aux dépens de l’Académie Royale de Peinture & de Sculpture,” 1783.

First edition of this little-known work by Beffroy (1757-1811). A man of letters, he authored several dramas and comedic works, often under the pseudonym “Cousin Jacques.” He quickly fell out of favor during the Revolutionary period once it was discovered that he intended to publish a harsh critique of what he considered a deeply flawed demagogic movement. Subsequently, he and his works were largely forgotten.

In the... More

2 p.l., 124 pp. Large 8vo, cont. red cloth-backed marbled boards, spine gilt. [Paris]: Rapilly, [1891].

[with]:

(—). Catalogue de Dessins anciens, Architecture, Décoration, Ameublement, Orfèvrerie…Dont la Vente aura lieu…les samedi 21, lundi 23, mardi 24, mercredi 25 février 1891… 4 p.l., 104 pp. 8vo, orig. printed wrappers (spine slightly defective). [Paris]: M. Delestre & S. Mayer, [1891].

The rare auction catalogues of Bérard’s library and drawing collection, one of the most important assemblages of architecture and decorative arts of its time. An established architect, Bérard (1838-90), inherited the foundations of these collections from his father, André Denis (1806-73), who... More

Text on recto, verso blank. Amsterdam: Seriaal, 1971.

Card announcing the exhibition and sale of a very rare Beuys multiple (12 copies). It was to be exhibited for one day only. This card is in fine condition. More

Woodcut device on title & numerous woodcuts in the text. 345, [7] leaves. Small 8vo, cont. vellum (some foxing, dampstain in fore-edge margin of first & last leaves). Venice: P.G. Giglio, 1559.

Fourth edition of the first systematic book on mining and metallurgy. Biringuccio (1480-1539?), after travelling throughout Italy and Germany inspecting metallurgical operations and running an iron mine and forge at Boccheggiano, was appointed director of the mint at Siena. He later cast cannon and built fortifications for the Este and Farnese families. At the time of his death he was head of the papal foundry and director of... More