Many black & white illus. in the text. 92, [4] pp. order form and ads. 8vo, printed semi-stiff wrappers (minor wear on extremities), staple-bound. [New York: Printed Matter Inc.], 1996.

Printed Matter’s 1996 mail-order catalogue consisting of two pages of Artists’ Projects for fundraising; an essay by Clive Phillpot entitled: “Twenty Years of Printed Matter”; a section called “How to Use the 1996 Printed Matter Catalogue”; recent publications ; back-list items; the remaining publications from Printed Matter’s short-lived publishing program in operation from 1976 to 1980; books from the Lapp Princess Press, including the work of Chuck Close, Fred Sandback, and Alan Turner; issues... More

Many black & white illus. 40 unnumbered pages. Tall narrow 8vo (215 x 105 mm.), brown semi-stiff wrappers, title & date on spine. [New York: October 1977].

One of Printed Matter’s earliest mail-order catalogues and now scarce, issued within a year of the store’s founding. It lists hundreds of early artists’ books and publications, and many are illustrated. This is probably an inventory of the store’s entire stock.

It includes the works of Andre, Mel Bochner, Broodthaers, Brouwn, Buren, Marie Combs, Darboven, Constance de Jong, Mario Diacono, Helen Douglas (and Telfer Stokes), Hans Peter Feldmann, Robert Filliou, General Idea, Conrad Gleber, Dick Higgins... More

Many black & white text illus. 111, [16] pp. of order forms & ads. 8vo, green semi-stiff pictorial wrappers. New York: Printed Matter, 1997.

The Printed Matter catalogue for 1997 and 1998, which begins with an introduction by the new director, David Platzker. He announces the inauguration of a membership program and the launch of a Printed Matter website. Following a listing of fundraising editions, Printed Matter has reproduced statements on artists’ books first published in Art-Rite no. 14 (1976/77), which was dedicated entirely to the theme of artists’ books. It includes the words of John Baldessari, Ulises Carrion, Lucy Lippard, Sol LeWitt, etc. This... More

15 black & white offset printed images. 48 unnumbered pages. Tall narrow 8vo (220 x 85 mm.), stiff silver wrappers (extremities very slightly worn), date & board members on lower cover, staple-bound. [New York: Printed Matter, Inc., December 1976].

Printed Matter’s very rare first catalogue, published in December 1976, eight months after the drafting of the organization’s mission statement. The founders established two fundamental criteria for their inventory: works in editions of 100 or more copies and works affordable to the general public. Much of the early stock came from Martha Wilson’s Franklin Furnace bookstore, which she had decided to divest and turn over to Printed Matter... 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

Many illus. in the text. 36 pp., order form on inside of lower wrapper. 8vo, semi-stiff pictorial wrappers, staple-bound. [New York]: 1988.

This catalogue begins with an introduction by Amy Baker Sandback, a member of the Printed Matter Board of Directors. This is followed by an essay by the art critic Germano Celant (translated from the Italian) called “Artists’ Manifestos & Magazines.” Then offered are works by Daniel Buren, Tom Phillips, Dieter Roth, Telfer Stokes & Helen Douglas, Susan Baker, Olivia Clavel, Joyce Cutler-Shaw, Janet Skeels, Nannucci, Lucas Samaras, Buzz Spector, James Turrell, Janet Zweig, etc. Most listings are illustrated along with... More

Many illus. in the text, some full-page, & on inside covers. 2 p.l., 80 pp. & order forms. 8vo (215 x 140 mm), printed pictorial wrappers, staple-bound. [New York: Printed Matter: 1991].

A catalogue issued in Printed Matter’s 15th year. It begins with an Introduction by director John Goodwin who writes: “Printed Matter Bookstore at Dia is in its fifteenth year of distributing books by artists to an ever-widening audience that includes students, collectors, educators, librarians, and, of course, other artists. We are delighted to observe that what the founders of Printed Matter dared to assert has indeed come true: the field of artists’ books is... 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

Many color illus. 63 pp. Square 4to, translucent wrappers. Sewanee, Tennessee: 2006.

Scarce exhibition catalogue of American artists’ books, one of 500 copies. The show was held at Sewanee, The University of the South’s University Art Gallery and Jesse Ball duPont Library, and guest curated by Ruth Rogers. Rogers selected the work of artists such as Johanna Drucker, Brad Freeman, Sarah Horowitz, Doug Beube, Amanda Nelsen, Sam Winston, Carolee Campbell, Joseph Beuys, etc. It amounts to a fascinating display of various structures, materials, printing methods, and interpretations of the book.

Near fine. More

Eight black & white illus. [12] pp. Accordion format (198 x 105 mm. closed, 1188 x 105 mm. fully unfolded). London: [1971].

The extremely rare catalogue for Nigel Greenwood’s 1971 exhibition of Ruscha’s artists’ books. This was the second international exhibition of these fabled works; Heiner Friedrich had presented them the previous year in Munich (17 March-4 April). An enthusiastic advocate of editioned books as original artworks, Greenwood (1941-2004) became the first gallerist to show the artist’s work in London with the present exhibition on 7-30 January 1971. There is presumably a copy of this catalogue at the Tate, where Greenwood’s archive is held, but on WorldCat... More

Six illus. in the text (two full-page). 24 unnumbered pages. Folio, pink semi-stiff wrappers (extremities a trifle scuffed). London: 1989.

One of Sam Fogg’s catalogues devoted to artists’ books. It lists 281 items with concise descriptions, including works by or materials related to Carl Andre, Joseph Beuys, Daniel Buren, Lucian Freud, Robert Indiana, Anselm Kiefer, Martin Kippenberger, Yves Klein, Sol LeWitt, Richard Long, George Maciunas, Claes Oldenburg, Jackson Pollock, Gerhard Richter, Ed Ruscha, Cy Twombly, Andy Warhol, Yoko Ono, etc. The second portion features exhibition catalogues and magazines. Catalogue compiled by Tim Cumming and Sam Fogg.

Very good copy. More

Embossed title on first leaf. 24 unnumbered leaves of thick Fabriano Rosaspina Avorio paper. Oblong folio (260 x 370 mm.), orig. cloth boards, linen cords strung through holes in paper. Barrytown: Space Heater Multiples, 1982.

A book that commands it be read from beginning to end, then end to beginning. This is one of Keith A. Smith’s masterpieces, also known as the “String Book”; from a numbered edition of 50 and signed by the artist. This work is noteworthy in terms of its structure — thick paper linked by string — and its interaction with light. Book 91 is not a printed book; one... More