The Exhibition Catalogues of Austin Osman Spare ( 1886 - 1956 ). A Handbook for Collectors.
London: Fulgur Ltd, 2012. First Edition - Edition Deluxe. Hardcover. Octavo in custom slipcase. 300 + pages, eighty colour plates. Bound in full black Morocco with "AOS" embossed heavily in blind to upper board, b&w illustrated endpapers, b&w frontisportrait, chronological listings, index of titles and housed in black clothbound slipcase. Includes colour illustrated dust jacket. The "Edition Deluxe", limited to 96 numbered copies signed by the editor in the limitation page at rear (there was also a trade edition of 700 cloth bound copies). From the publisher: "During the course of his creative life, Spare produced more than two thousand drawings, watercolors and pastels. His exhibitions ranged from the fashionable West End of Edwardian London, to the earthy taverns of post-War Southwark. This volume gathers together his very rare exhibition catalogues: from his first show at the Bruton Galleries in 1907, to his last at the Archer Gallery in 1955. These facsimiles present a wealth of scarce information, including: I. Commentaries by Austin Spare. II. Essays from Kenneth Grant, Dennis Bardens, Grace E. Rogers, John Smith, Oswell Blakeston, G.S. Sandilands and others. III. Lists of pictures exhibited, each with a catalogue number, often with prices. IV. The dates and locations for his shows. These exhibition catalogues are illustrated with 80 pages of color plates, carefully selected to represent the evolution of Spare’s work between 1902-1956, and the various styles he moved through during this period. The original catalogues are also augmented with an introduction by Robert Ansell, and several useful appendices, including: 1. Signatures and Monograms of the artist, 1902-1956. 2. Notes on Framing by Austin O. Spare (1947). 3. Inventory of Pictures remaining at 5 Wynne Road, 1956. 4. Decorated Objects. There is also a comprehensive index, which lists alphabetically more than 2000 picture titles for Spare’s output 1907-1955, denoting exhibition, date and catalogue number for each. This substantial volume represents an invaluable and essential resource for collectors of Spare’s work." A lovely copy. Fine in fine dust jacket, and housed in a near Fine slipcase with a mere hint of shelf wear. Item #70432
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