A set of twelve prints from "A Book of Automatic Drawing"
SPARE, Austin Osman.
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. They were beautifully produced by an art-printer for the Catalpa Press in 1973. In total 1000 sets of sheets were issued in the edition (there was also a small edition on hand-made paper), with most being bound up either for the Catalpa Press edition (1973) or the Teitan Press re-issue (2011). A small number of sets of sheets remain unbound, from which these were taken. The subject matter is typical of Spare: several of the pictures are obviously self-portraits whilst others are filled with the bizarre and fantastic creatures characteristic of his "automatic drawings." 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. (Item ID: 40015)
$65.00
