Artists Books Modern & Contemporary from Ursus Rare Books

Ursus Rare Books has issued its Catalogue 352, Artists Books Modern & Contemporary. This is where books and art merge. They are books, and most contain text, but the more notable feature in their value is going to be in the artwork, not in being an early edition. For example, it may be a reprint of an older book with new illustrations. However, that is not to say there isn't value in the text, but that is not the primary value of these editions.

We begin with an example of the above. It is Poésies de Stéphane Mallarmé. Mallarmé was a 19^th century French symbolist poet whose works anticipated the revolutionary trends in art that would break out in the next century. The first edition of this book, published in 1887, is quite valuable. However, the price drops off substantially to the next edition of 1899, published the year after Mallarmé died. This one comes from 1932, so the poems themselves would no longer exact a high price, except... Publisher Albert Skira wished to publish great literature illustrated by great artists. For Mallarmé's Poésies, he selected Henri Matisse. Already in his 60s by this time, Matisse had long ago established his reputation as one of France's greatest artists. Ursus describes this work as a “masterpiece of twentieth century book illustration,” the etchings “renowned for their delicate and simple design.” It is representative of the simpler style he developed later in his career. Item 56. Priced at $75,000.

The author of this book is far better known than the illustrator, but again, it is the illustrations that make this edition. Item 1 is La Guerre des Mondes, known in English as “The War of the Worlds.” First published in book form in 1898, this French edition comes from 1906. Writer H. G. Wells must be known by just about everyone, though artist Henri Alvin-Correa is, according to Ursus, “a little-known but extremely gifted Brazilian artist,” while this work “still remains a captivating illustrated book over 100 years after it was published.” Of course, the subject allows for imaginative illustrations, Martians being something for which there is no right or wrong way to depict. Ursus continues, “The turn-of-the-century illustrations of the invading Martians, their human captives, and destroyed cities provide a perfect complement to Wells' apocalyptic text.” $8,500.

James Lee Byars was an American artist, a man who knew how to grab an audience's attention even if he was not easy to understand. It is debatable how seriously he took his audience or even himself. Item 10 is one of his best known works, though it is hard to say whether to call it a book, a sculpture, or just what. Maybe it was part of a performance. It's title is Gold Dust is My Exlibris, [The White Cube]. Byars liked to use gold coloring and gold dust, but this one is just white, or off-white. It is, however, almost a perfect cube in size. It would be kind of tedious thumbing your way through this book, either from the front or back. Its 924 sheets are mostly blank. They are there to provide volume and the cube shape. The printed material is limited to the center of the book. Say what you will, this “book” is different from all the others on your shelf. $3,500.

This is an exhibition catalogue, one organized by André Breton and Marcel Duchamp. It was for the Internationale du Surrealisme which took place in 1947, explaining the title Le Surréalisme en 1947. The war recently had ended and surrealists could emerge from the shadows of war to return to normal life. Ursus describes it as a “celebrated Surrealist object,” containing “5 colour lithographs (Bauer, Ernst, Hérold, Lam, Miró), 4 etchings (Jean, Maria, Tanguy, Tanning), 1 colour etching (Bellmer), 2 wood engravings (Arp) and 12 lithographs (Brignoni, Calder, Capacci, Damme, Diego, Donati, Hare, Lamba, Matta, Sage, Tanguy, Toyen).” What stands out about this item, quite literally as it is three-dimensional on the cover, is Duchamp's woman's breast. It has been constructed from foam rubber. Duchamp has added the instruction, perhaps playfully, to “please touch.” Ursus notes that “the construction of the breast was delicate and perishable; consequently, of those few that have survived, most are now in an unappealing, deteriorated state.” Such is the ravages of time. Those of us of a similar age understand. Fortunately, “this copy is an exceptional survival almost never found in such superb condition.” This isn't the only thing exceptional about this copy, with other features spelled out in the catalogue's description that make it a unique copy. Item 22. $100,000.

This next item combines the writing of playwright Arthur Miller and the art of Louise Bourgeois. Miller gave Bourgeois an unpublished story of his for which she supplied illustrations. Actually, she supplied two sets, one of original drypoints, the other of color photographs. It was offered as two volumes. Out of 1,200 copies, this is one of 100 with the drypoints and is signed by both Miller and Bourgeois. The story is entitled Homely Girl, A Life, published in 1992. It is a story of a girl who grows up hating her looks because she has been told all her life by her parents that she is unattractive. It is not a pleasant life until she meets up with and marries a blind musician. Item 7. $12,500.

Ursus Rare Books may be reached at 212-772-8787 or pkraus@ursusbooks.com. Their website is www.ursusbooks.com.