[25] leaves, written on rectos only. Small 4to (207 x 160 mm.), patterned softcover (extremities a little sunned), manuscript title on upper cover, exposed sewing. Amsterdam: 1973.

A most exciting discovery: the manuscript, in the hand of Ulises Carrión (1941-89), for an early bookwork. Amor, la palabra was one of no fewer than six books that he published in 1973, it is also among his rarest. As in the final printed version, this manuscript is dedicated to Carrión’s partner, Aart van Barneveld (1951-90), who co-founded Other Books and So, Stempelplaats, and Timed Based Arts: “para aart, / que estudia filología.”... More

Graphite drawings throughout on triangular paper, laminated. [6] leaves, laminated covers with ms. title, signature, and date written in blue marker, metal spiral-bound. [Amsterdam?]: Self-published, 1984.

A unique hand-drawn bookwork by Ulises Carrión (1941-89), unrecorded by Ocampo and Agius in their catalogue raisonné. In the final decade of his life, Carrión created a group of geometric and minimalist books about which very little is known. This one depicts two rectangles that are initially nearly touching but, as one turns the pages, become increasingly distanced while the rectangle on the right shrinks. The book is signed by Carrión in blue marker... More

[in]: Revista Mexicana de Literatura, Nos. 11-12 (November-December 1962), pp. 17-22. 81 pp. & ads. 8vo, printed wrappers (lacking lower wrapper). Mexico City: 1962.

Ulises Carrión’s first appearance in the experimental literary journal Revista Mexicana de Literatura (1955-65). A good copy; some chipping to the upper wrapper and marginal dampstaining to the final few leaves of text.

❧ Not recorded by Schraenen in Dear reader. Don’t read (2016). More

Single sheet exhibition invitation torn into ca. two dozen pieces. Amsterdam: Pieter Brattinga Gallery, 1981.

One of Ulises Carrión’s rarest mail art projects, with the original mailed envelope sent to the collector Tjeerd Deelstra (b. 1937). As the artist intended (explained below), a small torn portion is not present.

“In 1981, when the Print Gallery Pieter Brattinga invited Carrión to exhibit his work there, Carrión thought of a response project in which he instructed participants to reconstruct, in any way they desired, the bottom half of an invitation, which had been shredded. They were then to sign it and mail... More

Black & white illus. throughout. [92] pp., 1 leaf of colophon. Small 4to, orig. printed wrappers, title on spine. Rochester: Visual Studies Workshop, 1987.

One of Carrión’s final editioned artist’s books, one of 200 copies printed at the Visual Studies Workshop Press. Carrión (1941-89) was selected for the VSW’s artist-in-residence program in the spring of 1987 and this was the fruit of his time in Rochester. The book is now rather scarce.

“In For Fans and Scholars Alike, Ulises Carrión composed pages which are organized in graphic terms but do not contain any specific verbal or visual messages. The text... More

105, [6] pp. Small 4to (200 x 146 mm.), orig. printed pictorial wrappers, title on spine. [Mexico]: Ediciones Era, 1966.

First and only edition of Carrión’s first published book, one of 1000 numbered copies and now seldom seen on the market. In 1966, Carrión (1941-89) was one of Mexico’s emerging literary talents. A number of his short stories had been published in leading journals, and his first play, El Gran Espectáculo, was performed at the Casa de la Cultura de Tlacotalpan, Veracruz, to rave reviews. Following his studies in philosophy and letters at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, he... More

Graphite drawings on sliced wax paper with one rectangular portion removed from each leaf, laminated. [6] leaves, laminated covers with ms. title, signature, date, and place of publication, metal spiral-bound. [From lower cover]: Amsterdam: 1988.

A mysterious drawn bookwork by Ulises Carrión (1941-89). Made the year before his untimely death, this is one of a small group of unique books that the artist created in the 1980s. Very little is known about these works; some, including the present, are not recorded by Agius and Ocampo’s catalogue raisonné. This bookwork has a title close to that of a book found... More

Single A4 sheet, printed on both sides, illus. on recto. Amsterdam: 1982.

Rare flyer for the lone film made by Ulises Carrión (1941-89). In the years after the closing of Other Books and So, the artist focused much of his efforts on video works, eventually founding Time Based Arts, a gallery dedicated to supporting video artists. On the verso, Carrión describes the film, which was “originally produced for the International Media Meeting, organized by the Agora Foundation in Maastricht from 19 to 25 April 1982.”

“Ever since his participation in the activities of the In-Out Center, Carrión along with other... More

Amsterdam: 1977.

The black version of this postcard distributed by Ulises Carrión for his Definitions of art exhibition, held at Other Books and So in March 1977. Recipients were asked to respond with their definition of art on the verso. Carrión received 367 answers, which were all displayed in the artist’s bookshop.

From the recto: “A show called ‘Definitions of art’ will be held at OTHER BOOKS AND SO Herengracht 227 Amsterdam from 1st March to 26th March 1977. Everybody is invited to participate, regardless of profession, sex, age, etc. […]

“Just write your definition (of what art is) on... More

212 pp. 8vo, orig. printed softcovers with flaps, title on spine. Geneva: Editions Héros-Limite, 2008.

Second edition (1st ed.: 1997) of an important sourcebook. This book gathers Ulises Carrión’s most influential writings (printed in English and French) and pairs them with essays by the great scholars of artists’ books, Anne Moeglin-Delcroix (b. 1948) and Clive Phillpot (b. 1938). Found at the end are helpful lists of the artist’s books, magazines, mail art projects, media projects, video works, articles and essays, and exhibitions.

Near fine copy. The first edition (207 pp.) is now very rare. More

70 pp. Small 4to (210 x 160 mm.), pictorial semi-stiff wrappers, title on spine. Amsterdam: VOID distributors, 1980.

The essential compendium of Ulises Carrión’s polemical essays; printed in an edition of 500 by Hetty Huisman’s VOID Distributors. His trailblazing theories and beliefs about artists’ books and mail art remain influential to this day. “The New Art of Making Books,” first published in Plural no. 41 (1975), is frequently cited by contemporary book artists.

The book includes his most important essays: “The New Art of Making Books,” “From Bookworks to Mailworks,” “Rubber Stamp Theory and Praxis,” “Rubber Stamp Art,” “Mail Art... More

Amsterdam: ca. 1979.

An original collage made by Ulises Carrión (1941-89) and gifted to Maurizio Nannucci (b. 1939) in support of Zona’s non-profit mission following the Zona Parolo & Suono festival (11-19 June 1979). Near fine; very faint foxing and residue from the glue.

❧ See G. Schraenen, ed., Dear reader. Don’t read. (2016), pp. 120-23, for similar collages by Carrión employing graph paper. More