Wright, Warhol, Goudy, and Gorey Feature in Swann Galleries’ June 10 Auction
New York— On Wednesday, June 10, Swann Galleries will offer an eclectic selection of printed and manuscript art books from the 16th through the 20th century, including limited editions, art journals, modern and private press pieces, signed and inscribed works by Andy Warhol and a run of works by Edward Gorey in an auction of Art, Press & Illustrated Books.
The limited editions include a copy of James Joyce’s Ulysses, featuring six etchings by Henri Matisse, one of only 250 copies signed by both the author and the artist, New York, 1935 (estimate: $8,000 to $12,000). There is also a copy of Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There, printed by the Pennyroyal Press and featuring wood-engraved illustrations by Barry Moser, West Hatfield, 1982. The present copy is number 19 of only 50 deluxe copies signed by Moser and includes an extra signed suite and original signed drawing ($3,000 to $4,000).
The fine selection of modern & private press texts includes Frederic Goudy’s Extracts from Night Thoughts [by] Edward Young, a hand-calligraphed text with illustrated borders and initial letters on vellum, circa 1890 ($2,000 to $3,000). An early work, possibly created in Chicago, the lettering in these Goudy manuscript pages is in a fairly traditional Gothic style, perhaps an experimental exercise, and showcases the early creativity of a prolific key figure in the world of type design.
The auction will offer a rare copy of Regards sur Paris, a folio with 33 color lithographs by a artists including Picasso, Braque, von Dongen, Chagall and others. Printed in Paris in 1962, this set includes an additional suite of prints for 66 total plates and is number 18 of only 20 copies signed by all involved artists and authors ($15,000 to $25,000).
There is a large selection of work by Andy Warhol, including a scare signed and inscribed folio, Wild Raspberries, New York, 1959 ($30,000 to $40,000). Believed to be one of roughly 100 copies, this example of the limited edition satirical cookbook contains hand-colored duplicates of two of the plates.
Work of note from the important art journals selection includes a group of 73 issues of Derrière Le Miroir, Paris, 1946-82 ($6,000 to $9,000), from the collection of Monroe Wheeler, the groundbreaking former Director of Exhibitions and Publications at the Museum of Modern Art (1935-67). There is also a group of 15 issues of the innovative art and design journal Wendingen, Amesterdam & Sandport, 1921-31 ($2,500 to $3,500), including the coveted Diego Rivera and Lyonel Feininger issues.
The auction also features the largest group of architecture and landscape architecture books to come to auction at Swann for a number of years. Highlights include two volumes of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Selected Drawings Portfolio, New York, 1977-79 ($1,000-$1,500), as well as a first English edition copy of Leon Batista Alberti’s The Architecture. . . in Ten Books, London, 1726 ($6,000 to $9,000).
Rounding out the auction is a selection of works from ominous and amusing artist and writer Edward Gorey, including a group of 20 first trade edition children’s books, 1960s-80s ($1,500 to $2,500), nearly all of which are signed.
The auction will begin at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 10. The items will be on public exhibition beginning Saturday June 5 from 12-5, June 8 and 9 from 10-6 and June 10 from 10-12.
An illustrated catalogue, with information on bidding, is available for $35 from Swann Galleries, Inc., 104 East 25th Street, New York, NY 10010, or online at www.swanngalleries.com.
For further information, and to make advance arrangements to bid by telephone during the auction, please contact Christine von der Linn at (212) 254-4710, extension 20, or via e-mail at cvonderlinn@swanngalleries.com.
Live online bidding is available via Invaluable.
First image: Lot 369: Andy Warhol, Wild Raspberries, signed and inscribed, New York, 1959. Estimate $30,000 to $40,000.
Second image: Lot 74: Frederic Goudy, Ecclesiastes or the Preacher, illuminated manuscript, initialed, circa 1890. Estimate $3,000 to $4,000.
