36 illus. (8 in color). [28] pp. 4to, semi-stiff pictorial wrappers, staple-bound. Vienna: Pakesch & Schlebrügge, 1990.

The fifth issue of Fama & Fortune Bulletin, edited and designed in its entirety by Martin Kippenberger (1953-97).

“[The issue] contains three sixteenth and seventeenth century English poems translated into German by Wolfgang Schlüter, seven colour reproductions of medium-format latex pictures created in the USA in 1990, and photographs taken during a visit to Las Vegas. The cover illustration is a floor plan of Kippenberger’s studio and apartment at Hederichstrasse 104/3 in Frankfurt.”–Koch.

Near fine.

❧ Uwe Koch, ed., Annotated Catalogue Raisonné of... More

20 black & white illus. & 20 red & white reproductions of musical scores. [40] pp. Oblong 8vo, printed wrappers (sunned), staple-bound. [Berlin: Self-published], 1981.

A very scarce and early artist’s book self-published by Martin Kippenberger (1953-97), printed in an edition of 400 copies only. WorldCat records just the copy at Bard among North American institutions; the Museum of Modern Art (NY) also has this title.

“This artist book was published to coincide with a concert held as part of the ‘Durch die Pubertät zum Erfolg’ [Through Puberty to Success] series of events, featuring works by the Viennese composer Gerhard... More

Full-bleed green & white illus. throughout. Ca. [424] pp. Thick square 4to (268 x 244 mm.), pictorial softcover, title on spine. Sankt Georgen: Collection Grässlin, 1994.

An invaluable record of the most extensive collection of Kippenberger’s work, assembled by the Grässlin family over several decades. Kippenberger (1953-97) and Sabine Grässlin are credited as the designers of the present catalogue. Koch estimates that it was printed in an edition of ca. 1000 copies. For the subsequent major exhibition at the Brandenburgischer Kunstverein (5 June-31 July 1994), a new dust-jacket depicting Kippenberger’s skull was added (explanation below); copies with this are extremely... More

114 black & white illus. Unpaginated. Small 8vo, geometric softcover, title on spine. Cologne: Walther König, 1988.

Scarce artist’s book by Martin Kippenberger (1953-97), mimicking the well-known design of books by Merve Verlag in Berlin, which had published one of the artist’s earliest books, Frauen (1980).

“Originally, Martin Kippenberger intended to have Psychobuildings published by Merve. When the project was abandoned due to a misunderstanding, he had the book published ‘…in the reversed layout of Merve…and presents, contextually aware, only photographs…The photographs are presented devoid of comment, and at first sight it seems as if they record only observations in... More

Color and black & white illus. throughout. 36 pp. 8vo, pictorial semi-stiff covers with flaps. [Frankfurt]: Galerie Grässlin-Ehrhardt, 1991.

A very rare exhibition catalogue, designed by Martin Kippenberger to imitate a Baedeker guide. We find just two copies in North America. According to Koch, it was produced in an edition of around 1000 copies.

“In 1991 Martin Kippenberger was teaching at the Städel Art School in Frankfurt. Virtuosen vor dem Berg [Virtuosi Before the Mountain], created in collaboration with the ‘Kippenberger Class’ (Matti Braun, Andreas Höhne, Adam Kuczynski, Martin Liebscher, Tobias Rehberger, Matthias Schaufler, Markus Schneider, Tatjana Steiner, Ronald Wullems... More

[42] pp. 8vo, yellow printed softcover. London: Nigel Greenwood Inc Ltd, [1970].

Scarce and important artist’s book by Argentine conceptual artist David Lamelas (b. 1946), printed in an edition of 1000 copies, with the first 100 numbered and signed. The book was published by the savvy London art dealer Nigel Greenwood (1941-2004).

Lamelas solicited responses from other conceptual artists to three statements: 1. Use of oral and written language as an Art Form. 2. Language can be considered as an Art Form. 3. Language cannot be considered as an Art Form. The answers of the following artists were featured... More

Numerous illus. Large folding poster (914 x 610 mm.), folded into eight panels (minor wear to the central fold). [San Francisco]: November 2010.

Leiber’s scarce penultimate catalogue (no. 51), a poster issued on the occasion of the 2010 New York Art Book Fair at MoMA PS1; WorldCat records no copies in the United States. “This poster mimics the event flyer for 9 Evenings: Theatre & Engineering, a series that took place October 13-23, 1966, at the 69th Regiment Armory in New York. The series was the inaugural program of the Experiments in Art and Technology (E.A.T.) organization and involved a.... More

13 double-page illus. 5 pp. of text. 4to (280 x 215 mm.), orig. plain stiff boards, spine taped as issued. San Francisco: Steven Leiber, [2010].

Steven Leiber’s rare last catalogue, devoted to the artists’ books of the Schmidt-Heins sororal twins, with color reproductions of their work. It is modeled after the exhibition catalogue Buchwerke, Barbara Schmidt-Heins, Gabriele Schmidt-Heins, Original-Bucher 1972 bis 1976, issued by the Kunstraum München & the Institut für moderne Kunst, Nuremberg, in 1976. This catalogue offers 14 unique bookworks for sale (seven by each twin), and provides detailed descriptions of their structures and illustrations.

Born in Rellingen... More

Black & white illus. on first & last pages. Two large folded brown sheets (457 x 305 mm. folded). 6 pp. of text & one small blue sheet entitled “Vault Room” laid-in. San Francisco: 1996.

Leiber’s uncommon 25th catalogue, published for an exhibition (18 July - 31 August 1996) at Track 16 Gallery in Los Angeles. Designed by Jody Zellen and Yoon Ki Chai and published in an edition of around 1000 copies.

In excellent condition.

❧ Steven Leiber Catalogs (2019), pp. 102-4. More

Single printed sheet & large crumpled and folded sheet (ca. 440 x 600), printed on both sides. San Francisco: [1999].

A very rare Steven Leiber (1957-2012) catalogue, one of approximately 100 copies produced. Numbered by Leiber as no. 30, Steven Leiber Catalogs has it as his 36th (March 1999). Imitating Duchamp’s celebrated poster and a work by Martin Creed, this catalogue is also very rare. Our copy is complete with the tongue-in-cheek certificate of authenticity for “A Sheet of 24 x 18 inch paper printed on both sides crumpled into a ball.”

The catalogue itself offers artists’ books by Roberta... More

Many black & white photocopied illus. 18 unnumbered leaves. 8vo (215 x 143 mm.), printed pictorial wrappers, staple-bound. [San Francisco: 2005].

A rare catalogue (no. 44) issued by Leiber in zine form that offers 39 works by Raymond Pettibon, including drawings, artist’s books, ephemera, and a collaborative piece with Ed Ruscha. These were all shown at 871 Fine Arts in an exhibition assembled by Adrienne Fish and Leiber. This catalogue is modeled after Pettibon’s zine Tripping Corpse, published by SST Records from 1981 to 1985.

In near fine condition, small stain to bottom of lower wrapper.

❧Steven Leiber Catalogs (2019)... More

[34] pp. 8vo (212 x 149 mm.), orig. pictorial wrappers, staple-bound. Cambridge, UK, & San Francisco: 20th Century Art Archives & Steven Leiber, 1996.

The scarce Leiber catalogue (no. 22) dispersing the remaining holdings of Leif Eriksson’s Swedish Archive of Artists’ Books; produced in an edition of around 250 copies. A great collector and advocate of artists’ publications, Eriksson started his archive in 1978. This catalogue was made in collaboration with Louisa Riley-Smith (20th Century Art Archives), who designed the catalogue. She selected an entrancing image from Annette Messager’s Les Tortures Volontaires (1974) as the cover image.

This catalogue offers... More