Austin Osman Spare


An Important Re-Issue of


A Book of Automatic Drawing


using the finely-printed sheets of the original edition, with additional material.

Two Issues: "Trade Edition" & "Edition Deluxe".

A Book of Automatic Drawing is a large, folio-sized book of sketches by the renowned English artist and occultist Austin Osman Spare (1886 - 1956). The original work was executed by the artist in April and May of 1925 during a particularly turbulent period of his life in which he abandoned more commercial artistic styles and instead immersed himself in the creation of several series of his darkly-visionary "automatic drawings." Spare finished the work in 1925, but his attempts to publish it himself failed, and it remained unpublished until it was printed by the Catalpa Press (London) in 1973. The book is a magnificently-crafted reproduction of Spare's original manuscript sketchbook and comprises a decorative title, contents, and end pages, plus twelve full-page plates and an Introduction by Ian Law. The sheets of this Catalpa Press edition were beautifully produced by an art-printer in two issues: a "trade edition" printed on white laid paper and an "edition deluxe" on hand-made paper. Each copy of the edition deluxe was to be "posthumously signed" by Spare by way of tipped in signed cheque that had been recovered from his home after his death.

A number of unbound sets of sheets from these original 1973 printings were recently rediscovered, and form the basis of this magnificent Teitan Press reissue. A 12 page booklet by Keith Richmond, recounting the complex and fascinating history of the book, is included with each copy.

"Trade Edition"

Limited to 350 copies.

Hardcover, Folio. (17" x 12" - 43.2cm x 30.5cm) 40pp. Quarter black cloth with black paper-covered boards and title and design by Spare gilt stamped on front board. The first publication of Spare's A Book of Automatic Drawing, a work he originally completed in 1925, but which remained unpublished until this edition. Finely printed in black and white, with some green and brown line-work on Abbey Mills white laid paper. This Teitan press reissue of the 1973 Catalpa Press "trade edition" is limited to 350 numbered copies, bound up from the original sheets, printed on high quality white wove paper. Included with each copy is a 12 page booklet by Keith Richmond, recounting the complicated history of the book.
The book is a superb production. As might be expected with sheets that are nearly 40 years old, there is the occasional minor blemish, but over all the book is as new.
(39943) Sorry - Sold Out


"Edition Deluxe"

Hardcover, Folio. (17" x 12" - 43.2cm x 30.5cm) 40pp. Quarter black goatskin with black cloth-covered boards and title and design by Spare gilt stamped on front board and spine. This Teitan press reissue of the 1973 Catalpa Press "edition deluxe" is limited to 40 numbered copies, bound up from the original sheets, finely printed in black and white, with some green and brown line-work, on fine hand-made paper.

Each copy is also "posthumously signed" by Austin Osman Spare by way of tipped in cheque (the cheques were recovered from his last house in the 1960s). Included with each copy is a 12 page booklet by Keith Richmond, recounting the complicated history of the book.
As might be expected with sheets that are nearly 40 years old, there is the occasional minor blemish, but over all the book is as new. (39944) Sorry - Sold Out

Limited to 40 copies.




Click HERE to view some of the images from A Book of Automatic Drawing

Also Available:
A Limited Number of Folders, Each Containing a Set of Prints from the "Trade Edition" on Abbey Mills white laid paper.

Austin Osman Spare, A set of twelve prints from "A Book of Automatic Drawing" London: Catalpa Press, 1973. First Edition sheets. Loose prints in soft paper folio. Twelve huge (17" x 12" - 43.2cm x 30.5cm) full-page black and white plates printed on Abbey Mills white laid paper. The plates are from un-issued sets of sheets of the "trade edition" of Austin Osman Spare's "A Book of Automatic Drawing," which was the first significant posthumous publication of Spare's work. As might be expected with sheets that are nearly 40 years old, there is the occasional minor blemish, but over all they are in Fine condition and ideal for framing. NOTE: Although light, they are very large and to avoid damage will be shipped flat in a box - thus additional shipping (at cost) will be applied to order. Please inquire in advance if you wish. (40015) $65.00

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NOTE: The books are very large and somewhat heavy - thus additional shipping (at cost)
will be applied to the order. Please inquire in advance telling us your location if you
wish to be advised of the cost beforehand.

(Because of the size and value of these books we will NOT ship them via Media Mail)

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Place your order direct via our secure website at:

http://www.weiserantiquarian.com

or email us at: books@weiserantiquarian.com

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