64 pp. Large 4to (275 x 215 mm.), orig. pictorial wrappers, staple-bound. Toronto: 1997.

A rare Art Metropole catalogue, with the upper wrapper illustrated by Garry Kennedy. Presents an impressive range of artists’ books, multiples, audio recordings, videotapes, and exhibition catalogues.

In excellent condition. The previous owner has marked several listings with yellow highlighter. More

Pictorial wrappers designed by Buren & several black & white illus. Unpaginated. Large 4to (268 x 198 mm.), pictorial wrappers (spine sunned), staple-bound. [Toronto: 1983].

A rare catalogue published by Art Metropole, with wrappers designed by Daniel Buren. Art Metropole, founded in 1974 by General Idea, was the first large-scale distributor of artists’ books and publications in North America.

Very good copy, a trifle browned. Unrecorded on WorldCat. The previous owner has annotated a number of the entries in pen and red marker. More

Many black & white text illus. [64] pp. Small 8vo (210 x 135 mm.), orig. pictorial wrappers (minor sunning to head & spine), staple-bound. Toronto: 1976.

The Art Metropole’s very scarce third catalogue of books, periodicals, films, and videotapes. Two years before Printed Matter was established in New York, Art Metropole became the first large-scale distributor of artists’ publications in North America. The collective General Idea (AA Bronson, Felix Partz & Jorge Zontal), which had been working with printed matter since the creation of FILE Megazine in 1972, founded this artist-run space in 1974.

Expanding greatly on Art Metropole’s previous catalogues, which primarily featured North American artists, No. 3 represents many more listings by artists from around the world. In addition to works by Baldessari, Beuys, Buren, Huebler, Kawiak, Knowles, LeWitt, Resnick, Rot, Schwegler, Vostell, Stokes & Douglas, etc., this catalogue includes publications from Edition Hansjörg Mayer, Beau Geste Press, Something Else Press, Visual Studies Workshop, and General Idea. We also find exhibition catalogues, special editions, and video works, many of which are now very valuable. More

62 pp. Large 4to (273 x 211 mm.), orig. pictorial wrappers, staple-bound. Toronto: 1991.

A rare bookseller’s catalogue, with the cover designed by Gary Neill Kennedy. It offers an extensive range of artists’ bookworks, exhibition catalogues, multiples, audio works, video works, and periodicals.

Fine copy of an important document relating to the North American distribution of artists’ publications. More

Cover designed by R. Fones. 85 pp. Large 4to (280 x 220 mm.), pictorial wrappers, staple-bound. [Toronto]: 1993.

An uncommon catalogue of artists’ books, multiples, audio works, video works, and periodicals. In fine condition.

❧ See “Art Metropole’s Publications and Events History with Related Ephemera, January 1971 – April 2006,“ on the National Gallery of Canada website. More

Black & white illus. (some full-page). 47 pp. Large 4to (277 x 205 mm.), pictorial wrappers, staple-bound. [Toronto: 1977].

[with]:

—. [From upper wrapper]: Supplement to Catalogue No. 5, Editions by Artists. [10] pp. (incl. inside wrappers). 4to, pictorial wrappers, staple-bound. Toronto: 1978. More

A few black & white illus. in the text. 47 pp. Large 4to (268 x 210 mm.), orig. printed pictorial wrappers, staple-bound. [Toronto: 1980].

A rare catalogue issued by Art Metropole. It offers hundreds of artists’ books, art publications, periodicals, and records. On the inside of the upper wrapper, Art Metropole advertises their important exhibition catalogue Books by Artists, featuring essays by Tim Guest and Germano Celant. The cover illustration is taken from Giulio Paolini’s Statement, which is offered on page 27.

In excellent condition. More

Many text illus. & ads. 46 pp. Large 4to (273 x 212 mm.), orig. pictorial wrappers (spine faintly sunned), staple-bound. Toronto: [1980].

A rare Art Metropole catalogue, with an illustration from Joseph Beuys: Multiples on the upper wrapper. The company’s archivist Tim Guest writes on the inside of the upper wrapper: “The titles in this catalogue can be divided into two loose categories: books by artists and books which describe artists’ work.

The latter category includes exhibition catalogues and critical texts, publications which complement or extend the discourse of particular work. In choosing titles, our bias is toward contemporary art in non-traditional formats. More

Unpaginated. 59 pp. & ads. Large 4to, orig. printed wrappers designed by Holzer, staple-bound. Toronto: 1989.

[bound with]:

—. [From first sheet]: Catalogue Update, December 1989. Eight stapled sheets, printed on both sides. Toronto: 1989. More

Many text illus. 30 pp. Large 4to, orig. printed wrappers, staple-bound. Toronto: 1979.

A very rare catalogue of video art issued by Art Metropole, the first North American large-scale distributor of artists’ books and publications. This was their inaugural catalogue dedicated to video works, all of which were available for rent. We find works by Acconci, Ant Farm, Susan Britton, Colin Campbell, Filliou, General Idea, Dan Graham, Michael Hayden, Nancy Holt, Patricia Plattner, Alan Sondheim, Lisa Steele, etc. Numerous stills illustrate many of the entries.

In fine condition. We are only able to locate the copy at the National Gallery of Canada... More

Black & white frontis. Unpaginated. Large 4to, orig. printed wrappers, staple-bound. Toronto: 1986.

A scarce bookseller’s catalogue of artists’ books and publications. Founded in 1974 by General Idea, Art Metropole was the first large-scale North American distributor of this kind of material. The present catalogue, printed in an edition of 2500 copies, was designed as a work by the artist Ian Murray (b. 1951), and contains hundreds of entries. The compilers have denoted “bookworks” — their preferred term for artists’ books — with a black square next to the listings. This catalogue presents an impressive and vast array of materials, including video and audio works.

Near fine copy, the spine is a trifle sunned. A few pencil notes in the text. More

Many text illus. 79 pp. Large 4to (275 x 215 mm.), orig. pictorial wrappers by M. Nannucci, staple-bound. Toronto: June 2000.

A scarce catalogue of artists’ publications, video and audio works, and multiples. Designed by Nannucci. In fine condition.

❧ See “Art Metropole’s Publications and Events History with Related Ephemera, January 1971 – April 2006,“ on the National Gallery of Canada website. More