Steichen, Edward [Yousuf Karsh; Estrellita Karsh]

A Life in Photography.

Garden City, NY : Doubleday & Company, Inc., 1963.

First edition of this autobiography of Edward Steichen, documenting his pioneering career as one of the 20th century’s most influential photographers. Square quarto, original publisher’s cloth with gilt titles to the spine and front panel, pictorial endpapers, illustrated with 249 black-and-white plates, including still lifes, landscapes, and portraits. Association copy, inscribed by Edward Steichen onContinue reading "A Life in Photography."

Knight, Hilary

Original Hilary Knight Ch’i-Lin and her Chinese Unicorn Watercolor Painting.

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Rare original water color painting of Hilary Knight’s characters Ch’i-Lin and her Chinese Unicorn. Rondo, painted in watercolor, ink and gold paint. Captioned by Knight in the lower left corner in pencil. Double matted and framed. The entire piece measures 16 inches by 16 inches. A lovely presentation.

Wharton, Edith & Ogden Codman Jr

The Decoration of Houses.

New York : Charles Scribner's Sons, 1897.

First edition of Edith Wharton’s first published book. Quarto, original marbled paper boards. Illustrated with 56 plates. In very good condition. First editions are uncommon.

Jacobi, Lotte [Carl Zahn; Yousuf Karsh; Estrellita Karsh]

Lotte Jacobi.

Danbury, New Hampshire : Addison House, 1978.

First edition of this autobiography of Lotte Jacobi, exploring her journey from running a premier Berlin studio to becoming a renowned photographer of cultural icons in New York. Square quarto, original publisher’s cloth, illustrated with a curated selection of her iconic portraits and photographs. Association copy, inscribed by the book’s designer Carl Zahn on theContinue reading "Lotte Jacobi."

Introduction by O. M. Green

Shanghai of To-day-A Souvenir Album of Thirty-Eight Vandyke Prints of “The Model Settlement.”

Shanghai : Kelly & Walsh, Limited, 1927.

First edition of this famous photobook showing views of Shanghai, including the international settlement’s imposing architecture, expansive boulevards, and bustling streets. Quarto, original cloth-backed flexible boards, front panel stamped and lettered in red and gilt with mounted collotype panorama of Shanghai Municipal Council building within printed red border, pictorial endpapers, illustrated with 38 Van Dyke prints inContinue reading "Shanghai of To-day-A Souvenir Album of Thirty-Eight Vandyke Prints of “The Model Settlement.”"

Warhol, Andy

Andy Warhol’s Exposures.

London : Hutchinson, 1979.

First British edition of Warhol’s candid and engaging photobook. Quarto, original cloth, illustrated. Presentation copy, boldly inscribed by Andy Warhol on the half-title, who has added a large sketch of a woman’s lips below, “To John love Andy Warhol.” Additionally inscribed on the front panel of the dust jacket on the right side, “Andy, John.”Continue reading "Andy Warhol’s Exposures."

Knight, Hilary

Original Hilary Knight Butterfly Prince Painting.

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Large original painting of Hilary Knight’s Butterfly Prince. Gouache and gold paint. Signed by Hilary Knight in the lower left corner of the painting. In fine condition. Matted and framed. The entire piece measures 19 inches by 21 inches.

Jerrold, Blanchard. [George Cruikshank]

The Life of George Cruikshank. In Two Epochs.

London : Chatto and Windus, 1882.

First edition of the definitive biography of famed illustrator and satirist George Cruikshank. Octavo, bound in full crushed levant morocco by Sangorski & Sutcliffe, gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, triple gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, allContinue reading "The Life of George Cruikshank. In Two Epochs."

Chinese Buddhist Watercolor Scroll of Diyu.

China c. 1880-1900.

Rare original Chinese watercolor scroll of the realm of the dead. Watercolor on paper, wooden rollers at top and bottom. The scroll measures 62.5 inches by 30.25 inches. In very good condition.

Aarons, Slim

A Wonderful Time: An Intimate Portrait of the Good Life.

New York : Harper & Row, Publishers, 1974.

First edition of Slim Aarons’ masterpiece, a portrait of the glamour, luxury and exclusivity of the elite during the 1950s and 60s which remains without peer to this day. Folio, original blue cloth, profusely illustrated with photographs by Slim Aarons, many full-page. Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Bookplate of Joyce Allen to theContinue reading "A Wonderful Time: An Intimate Portrait of the Good Life."

Albers, Josef. [Henri Cartier-Bresson]

Despite Straight Lines.

New Haven : Yale University Press, 1961.

First edition of this work by the famed artist. Octavo, original boards. Association copy, inscribed by the author to Henri Cartier-Bresson, “For Henry Cartier-Bresson Josef Albers May 20, ‘68.” Cartier-Bresson was working for Magnum Photographers when he photographed Josef Albers at his home in Connecticut in May of 1968. An outstanding association copy, linking Albers,Continue reading "Despite Straight Lines."

Janssonius, Johannes

Rare Johannes Janssonius Map of Le Maine.

Amsterdam 1668.

Rare copper engraved, hand-colored map of the French province of Maine and its surrounds by Dutch cartographer Johannes Janssonius. One page with detailed topographical details and hand-colored borders. In near fine condition. Matted and framed. The entire piece measures 27 inches by 22.5 inches.

Armorial Binding.

[France] c. 1690.

Rare original armorial binding in gold and silver thread bearing a coat of arms reminiscent of the Durazzo family of Venice. Small octavo, empty, white silk with pink silk pastedowns, the outer border decorated with floral repeating motives in silver and green foil leaves, and the escutcheon crowned by a pink hat with six tasselsContinue reading "Armorial Binding."

Shakespeare, William

The Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare with Copious Glossarial Notes and a Biographical Notice. [Fore-edge Painting].

Edinburgh and London : Gall & Inglis, n.d.

Finely bound example of Inglis’ compilation of the dramas of Shakespeare. Octavo, bound in full morocco with gilt titles to the spine and front panel, all edges gilt, decorated with a concealed fore-edge painting of Shakespeare, illustrated with four engravings on steel. In very good condition.

Phillips, Mary E

Reminiscences of William Wetmore Story: The American Sculptor and Author Being Incidents and Anecdotes Chronologically Arranged. Together with an Account of his Associations with Famous People and his Principal Works in Literature and Sculpture.

Chicago and New York : Rand, McNally & Company, 1897.

First edition of Phillips’ biography of William Wetmore Story. Octavo, original publisher’s decorated cloth, gilt titles to the spine and front panel, illustrated, tissue-guarded engraved frontispiece portrait of Story. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “Inscribed with cordial good will by Mary E. Phillips for a very gracious Lady toContinue reading "Reminiscences of William Wetmore Story: The American Sculptor and Author Being Incidents and Anecdotes Chronologically Arranged. Together with an Account of his Associations with Famous People and his Principal Works in Literature and Sculpture."

Lumsden, Harry and Rev. P. Henderson Aitken

History of the Hammermen of Glasgow: A Study Typical of Scottish Craft Life and Organization.

London : Alexander Gardner, Paisley, 1912.

First edition with calligraphic dedication page to Edward, Prince of Wales bound in, “Presented by The Master Court of the Incorporation of the Hammermen of Glasgow To His Royal Highness Edward, Prince of Wales on the occasion of his admission as an Honorary Member of the Incorporation. 9th, March 1921.”  From the library of Edward, DukeContinue reading "History of the Hammermen of Glasgow: A Study Typical of Scottish Craft Life and Organization."

O'Hara, Frank, Larry Rivers and Grace Hartigan [WIlliam de Kooning]

Hartigan and Rivers With O’Hara.

New York : Tibor de Nagy Gallery, 1959.

First edition of this exhibition flyer for the 1959 Tibor de Nagy exhibition of works by Larry Rivers and Grace Hartigan inspired by O’Hara’s poetry. Octavo, original wrappers as issued, illustrated with twelve black and white lithographs. Association copy, inscribed by Larry Rivers on the verso of the front cover to fellow member of theContinue reading "Hartigan and Rivers With O’Hara."

Brooks, Donald

Dance a Little Closer: Donald Brooks Original Pencil and Watercolor Drawing.

1983.

Original Dance a Little Closer is a pencil and watercolor drawing depicting the Cynthia character in a full length pink and peach gown with a second drawing depicting the back of the gown, signed lower right by legendary designer Donald Brooks. Matted and framed. The entire piece measures 27 inches by 22 inches. Brooks was theContinue reading "Dance a Little Closer: Donald Brooks Original Pencil and Watercolor Drawing."

Rusha, Ed

Make New History.

Los Angeles : MOCA, 2009.

Signed limited edition of this rare artist’s book, or “art object” published on the occasion of the Gala of the 30th Anniversary of the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles. Oblong octavo, the text block of the book is entirely blank, the artist’s intention being for its owner to write their own history inContinue reading "Make New History."

Ethiopian Ge’ez Healing Scroll.

Ethiopia c. 19th century.

Rare original parchment healing scroll written in Ge’ez, the liturgical language of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. Portable manuscript on parchment in red and black ink, with a talismanic design at the top. Typically kept rolled and stored until used, this example is unrolled, mounted on thin wooden boards, and presented under glass in a black metalContinue reading "Ethiopian Ge’ez Healing Scroll."

Warhol, Andy

Andy Warhol’s Exposures.

New York : Andy Warhol Books/ Grosset & Dunlap, 1979.

First edition of Warhol’s candid and engaging photobook. Quarto, original cloth, illustrated. Presentation copy, boldly inscribed by Andy Warhol on the half-title, who has added a large sketch of a heart below, “To Vic Andy Warhol.” Fine in a very good dust jacket. Jacket design by Andy Warhol.

[Reeves, James H.]; Ferdinand Foch

Brigadier General James H. Reeves WWI Awards and Appointment Collection.

20th c..

Rare collection of WWI memorabilia with regard to Commander of the 353rd United States infantry regiment (89th division), Brigadier General James H. Reeves. The collection includes: From the Government of the French Republic, a large photographic print of General Reeves, inscribed to him by General Ferdinand Foch, “Together with their valor it is this disciplineContinue reading "Brigadier General James H. Reeves WWI Awards and Appointment Collection."

[Parrish, Maxfield] SAUNDERS, Louise

The Knave of Hearts.

New York : Charles Scribners Sons, 1925.

First edition of “one of the greatest of American illustrated books” (Porter, 84), the last and most lavish children’s book illustrated by Maxfield Parrish, with mounted cover design, pictorial endpapers, 14 full-page color plates, and nine in-text color illustrations. Folio, original black cloth, mounted cover illustration, pictorial endpapers. Housed in a custom cloth chemise and slipcase.

Warhol, Andy; Kurt Benirschke

Vanishing Animals.

New York : Springer-Verlag, 1986.

First edition of this accessible and striking art-and-science collaboration. Square quarto, original pictorial black cloth, illustrated throughout with 16 new prints by Warhol created for this book. Boldly signed by Andy Warhol on the front free endpaper. Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Text by Kurt Benirschke.