Iconic cover from the inaugural issue of Colors: A Magazine for the Rest of the World, published by Benetton and edited by Tibor Kalman and Oliviero Toscani. See item 11 below.

New Arrivals

Below, our monthly selection of 22 new arrivals at Harper's Books. For additional images, click through to our website. Visit us at our Chelsea bookshop at 504 West 22nd Street or at our East Hampton location at 87 Newtown Lane.

1. John Baldessari

The Telephone Book (with Pearls)

Gent: Imschoot, Uitgevers for IC, 1988. First Edition. Octavo. One of 1000 copies. Baldessari sequences appropriated images that feature (corded) telephones and/or pearls; an artist's book that's accumulated a new layer of meaning with age. Very light rubbing, with original price sticker and small abrasion to the bottom of the back cover; else near fine in illustrated purple wrappers.

$350.00

2. Samuel Beckett

En Attendant Godot (First Edition with Signed Card)

Paris: Les Editions de Minuit, 1952. First Edition, trade issue. Octavo. An outstanding copy of this modernist touchstone. Accompanied by a collector's author card, SIGNED and inscribed by Beckett beneath a pasted reproduction of his portrait: "À Virgilio di Mances (?). Cordialement. Sam. Beckett. Paris, septembre 1952." To the verso of the card, the collector has supplied biographical details for Beckett in Spanish manuscript. A sharp copy, with wrappers printed in blue and black. Very faint stain to titles on front wrapper and minor sunning to spine, else near fine. Housed in half-leather clamshell case.

$5000.00

3. Vanessa Bell and Virginia Woolf

Monday or Tuesday. With Woodcuts by Vanessa Bell

London: The Hogarth Press, 1921. First Edition. Octavo. Collection of short stories, now-regarded as the announcement of Woolf's breakthrough in narrative technique, accompanied by 4 full-page woodcuts from Vanessa Bell, who also designed the boards. Contents: 91, [1] pages, concluding with single-leaf catalogue from The Hogarth Press. Without jacket, as issued. Cloth spine, with some scuffing to boards and rubbing to corners; contents show minimal offsetting from woodcuts, typical for this edition. A pleasing, unsophisticated copy; better than very good.

$3000.00

4. Joseph Beuys and Nam June Paik

In Memoriam: George Maciunas, 1931-1978: Klavierduett

Berlin: Edition Block, 1982. Two disc set of LP vinyl records (33 rpm). Documentation of a 1978 musical memorial by Joseph Beuys and Nam June Paik at the Kunstakademie in Düsseldorf to commemorate the late George Maciunas. In the Fluxus spirit—playing back-to-back pianos—Beuys and Paik agreed to limit their improvised performance to 74 minutes, being an inversion of Maciunas' final count of 47 years. Gatefold sleeve illustrated after photograph of Maciunas in gorilla mask to front panel and performance images by Ute Klophaus to interior and rear; near fine. Vinyl records fine. Uncommon, with only 4 OCLC records located.

$500.00

5. Brassaï

The Secret Paris of the 30's (Inscribed)

New York: Pantheon Books, 1976. First American Edition. Quarto. This copy TWICE-SIGNED by Brassai: first to the title page, dated in the year of publication along with warm inscription: "on ne peut plus amicalement." The second signature follows a holograph caption near the end of the book, where Brassaï identifies himself in an opium den portrait. A charming copy of Brassaï's exploration of underground Paris in the 1930s; these "secret photographs" having awaited changes in social mores before finally reaching publication. Near fine in black cloth boards, in near fine illustrated jacket.

$950.00

6. William S. Burroughs

Junkie: Confessions of an Unredeemed Drug Addict

New York: Ace Books, 1953. First Edition. Duodecimo. A sharp copy of Burroughs' semi-autobiographical novel about the New York heroin scene of the early 1950s. Published under the pseudonym of William Lee and bound tête-beche with Maurice Helbrant's Narcotic Agent. Tight binding, with minimal rubbing to the vibrant illustrated wrappers; a near fine copy of the author's first novel.

$1500.00

7. Larry Clark

Tulsa (Association Copy)

New York: [Self-published, 1979]. First Edition thus. Quarto. This copy INSCRIBED by Clark to Anne Lewis—book designer and co-founder of Lustrum Press, the publisher of the first edition of Tulsa (1971), which was issued only in wrappers. A pleasing association copy, as Clark thanks Lewis for her assistance in his self-publication of this hardcover issue, utilizing leftover sheets from the 1971 edition. "Thanks once again for the help. We make a great team!" Near fine copy in black boards, in photo-illustrated jacket, with minor wear to head of spine, else near fine.

$1750.00

8. Robert Doisneau and Blaise Cendrars

La Banlieue de Paris

Paris: Pierre Seghers, 1949. First Edition of the preferred version in cloth with dust jacket. Small quarto. The landmark first book from photographer Robert Doisneau, featuring 130 gravure images of Parisian suburbs in the aftermath of war, accompanied by an impassioned text from Blaise Cendrars. Punctuated by the marvelous dust jacket, with the Eiffel Tower—symbol of French modernism—superimposed over a landscape of postwar housing projects. In the same year, a separate edition was issued in wrappers by La Guilde du Livre in Lausanne (Roth 101, Parr, vol. 1). Minor smudging to printed cream boards; near fine. With a near fine example of the panoramically-illustrated jacket, showing only minor rubbing. Housed in quarter-leather slipcase with pull-tab chemise.

$2250.00

9. Keith Haring

Montreux Jazz Festival, 1983 (Poster)

Montreux Jazz Festival Foundation, 1983. Large serigraph print; 40 x 29 inches (framed, 42.5 x 30.75 in.). First Printing, executed by Serigraphie Uldry in Bern. As one of his first commissioned works, Haring was invited by Pierre Keller to design a poster for the 1983 edition of the Montreux Jazz Festival. Of the three designs proposed by Haring, all were accepted. A remarkably bright and sharp copy, archivally-hinged in white lacquer frame with UV plexiglass; fine.

$2500.00

10. Dick Higgins

Jefferson's Birthday / Postface

New York: Something Else Press, 1964. First Edition. Octavo. Two texts from Higgins, bound tête-bêche, including his virtuosic art-historical treatise (Postface) concerning what he would eventually name "the arts of the new mentality," with a detailed perspective on the emergence of the Happenings and Fluxus movements. Often passing un-noticed, the verso of the illustrated jacket features a manifesto for the Something Else Press. A remarkably well-preserved copy; fine in fine jacket, preserved in contemporary glassine.

$450.00

11. Tibor Kalman and Oliviero Toscani (editors)

Colors: A Magazine about the Rest of the World (First 13 issues)

New York and Rome: United Colors of Benetton, 1991-1995. First Edition. Bilingual editions, in various sizes. Run of the first thirteen issues of the global magazine Colors, proposed by Oliviero Toscani to Luciano Benetton as counterweight to the late-80s editorial Zeitgeist of celebrity gossip and current affairs. Graphic designer Tibor Kalman was hand-picked by Toscani as the inaugural Editor-in-Chief, and would helm the publication through Issue 13. "If the Earth has become a Global Village, then Benetton is the Village clothing store. And like every good leading citizen, it feels an obligation to not only succeed in business, but also to improve the neighborhood. Its communications program is meant to raise an awareness of the issues that affect the life of the Village. Its advertising reflects its concerns for the community. To further these efforts, Benetton has founded Colors, the Village magazine. It is about what people in the Village do and see and think. It is about how each person in the Village is different" (editorial statement by Kalman in Benetton's Global Vision document, 1993). Themes addressed in these early issues include war, AIDS, race, ecology, religion, shopping, sport, and travel, with a keen eye for the controversial. All issues in this run uniformly near fine. Rare; a defining moment in late-20th publishing and design.

$3500.00

12. Ken Kesey

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (Inscribed)

London: Methuen & Co. Ltd., 1962. First UK Edition. Octavo. Published in the same year as the American edition, the British edition featured a new psychiatric jacket design by Kenneth Farnhill. This copy SIGNED by Kesey to front endpaper, with elaborate—if opaque—inscription: "Like an outdated ghost, hold the drawstring tight." Kesey's name blacked out on the copyright page as usual. Fine copy in red cloth boards. With pleasing copy of unclipped jacket; minor toning to edges, with slightest wear to spine ends and waviness to laminate at spine, overall near fine.

$3500.00

13. Dorothea Lange and Paul Schuster Taylor

An American Exodus: A Record of Human Erosion

New York: Reynal & Hitchcock, 1939. First Edition. Quarto. Presaging contemporary concerns with climate migration, Lange and Taylor here produced the most important documentary FSA photobook, and one of the most iconic depression-era publications. (Parr / Badger, v1; Roth 102-103). This copy in first issue jacket, with Mein Kampf advertised to rear panel. Blue cloth boards with gilt-stamped design; save for minor toning to pages, a near fine copy. In photo-illustrated jacket, with moderate wear to edges; better than very good. A sharp copy.

$2500.00

14. George Maciunas

Flux Wedding: George and Billie. February 25, 1978

New York: Money for Food Press, 1978. First Edition. Artist book. Documentation of the wedding of George Maciunas and the poet Billie Hutching, less than three months before the former's death from cancer. As the capstone performance to his life-long interest in cross-dressing, Maciunas wore a bridal gown, along with Hutching, at the SoHo ceremony, with the couple also performing a clothing swap/striptease during the reception; groom transforming into bride, and vice versa. The ceremony was officiated by Fluxus artist Geoffrey Hendricks, who had earlier been involved in the first Flux Divorce in 1971. Textured duotang portfolio, with hand-stamped titles to front and rear panels. Inserted into pockets: xerographic copies of the Flux Certificate of Marriage, the Register of Witnesses, and service programme, an 8 x 10 silver gelatin print combining two photographs of the wedding service (with stamp of Hollis Melton to verso), and a 3 pp. transcription of the readings and vows by Hendricks. Some toning to portfolio panels, else near fine. With only 5 OCLC records located.

$850.00

15. Charles Olson

Corrado Cagli (First appearance of The Moebius Strip)

New York: Knoedler, 1947. First Edition. Octavo. Bifolium catalogue for the exhibition of Corrado Cagli's paintings at New York's Knoedler gallery. Notable as the first appearance for Charles Olson's poem To Corrado Cagli, which would eventually be reworked as The Moebius Strip. The poem facing a full-page Edward James illustration. Crease to upper corner, else near fine. Housed in shallow cloth clamshell, with leather lettering piece to spine. An uncommon item of Olson ephemera.

$950.00

16. Richard Prince

Richard Prince (Inscribed with invitation)

New York: Barbara Gladstone, 1988. First Edition. Quarto. This copy INSCRIBED by Prince to bookseller Craig Anderson, with precise—and possibly imaginary—dating of 9/9/88, 12:05:46 PM. An artist's book published in conjunction with an exhibition at Barbara Gladstone Gallery in 1988. Although predated by several publications, this was the first book in Prince's signature mashup style. Accompanied by bifolium gallery invitation for the same Gladstone show. Very minor rubbing to illustrated wrappers, else fine.

$2250.00

17. Viviane Sassen

Flamboya

Rome: Contrasto, 2008. First Edition. Quarto. A series of vivid color portraits from various African locales, emerging from collaborative—and often performative—work between Sassen and her subjects. For her first photobook, Sassen employs alternating sheet sizes to produce striking juxtapositions between images. Accompanied by texts from Moses Isegawa and Edo Dijksterhuis. (Parr / Badger, v3). Minor rubbing to illustrated boards, else near fine.

$1250.00

18. Hiroshi Sugimoto and Takaaki Matsumoto (designer)

Hiroshi Sugimoto (Signed)

Ostfildern: Hatje Cantz Verlag, 2010. Revised Edition. Thick quarto. SIGNED by Sugimoto in silver ink to front endpaper, with presentation inscription to front pastedown. First published on the occasion of a traveling exhibition of Sugimoto's works (2005 and 2007), this award-winning monograph—designed by Takaaki Matsumoto—was revised in 2010 to include work from his recent series Lightning Fields and Photogenic Drawing. Beautifully illustrated in both black-and-white and color, with an autobiographical text from Sugimoto himself, along with essays by Kerry Broughner and Pia Müller-Tamm. Silk boards with blind-stamped design; fine. In elegant photo-illustrated jacket, near fine.

$500.00

19. Wolfgang Tillmans

Concorde (Signed First Edition)

Köln: Verlag der Buchhandlung Walther König, 1997. First Edition. Octavo. SIGNED by Tillmans. Artist's book published in conjunction with Tillmans' 1997 exhibition at London's Chisenhale Gallery (I didn't inhale). Full-page color spreads of the majestic—and now extinct—Concorde, as captured by Tillmans in the wild. A modern take on natural history. Text on jacket flaps in English and German. (Parr / Badger, v1). Fine in photo-illustrated French-folded wrappers. Reprinted many times since its debut, this first printing is now uncommon.

$850.00

20. David Foster Wallace

The Broom of the System (First Edition)

New York: Viking Penguin, 1987. First Edition. Octavo. David Foster Wallace's first book, emerging from his undergraduate work at Amherst College. Published simultaneously in wrappers, this cloth version was issued in a relatively small print run of 1300 copies. Pages tanning, as always, else fine in a near fine jacket, with minor discoloration to front joint. An exceptional copy of one of the most sought after debuts of the '80s.

$2500.00

21. David Wojnarowicz

¡Viva Carlo! ¡Viva Libertad! A Benefit for Carlo McCormick's Legal Expenses

New York: Irving Plaza, 1990. Silkscreen on orange sheet; 27 x 21.5 inches (framed, 31 x 25 inches). A poster designed by David Wojnarowicz to promote a benefit concert at Irving Plaza for writer/curator Carlo McCormick, who had been arrested in Mexico on peyote-related charges. A great line-up; with the "Surprise Guests" being the Psychedelic Furs. Some scuffing to margins, else near fine. Archivally-hinged in white lacquer frame with UV plexiglass.

$3500.00

22. Jonas Wood

A History of the Met: Volume 1 (First Edition)

Los Angeles: Jonas Wood & Eighth Veil, 2010. First Edition. Small quarto. Self-published first book from artist Jonas Wood. Edition of 400 copies. Reproduction of 16 black and white charcoal and pencil drawings that began as studies at the Met. Concluding with short text by Wood. Reprinted in 2013, this first edition is elusive in commerce. Minor scuffing to illustrated white laminated boards; near fine.

$750.00

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