A superb Teitan Press reissue of Austin Osman Spare’s A Book of Automatic Drawing
using the finely-printed sheets of the original Catalpa Press edition, with additional material.
Two Issues: “Trade Edition” and “Edition Deluxe”
&
Special Launch-Week Print Give-Away
(Ends May 23rd, 2011ev)
A Book of Automatic Drawing is a large, folio-sized book of sketches by Austin Osman Spare. 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 Spare finished the work in 1925, but his attempts to publish it himself failed, and it remained unpublished until it was printed by the Catalpa Press (London) in 1973.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 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. 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 recounting the complicated history of the book.
(39943) $145.00
“Edition Deluxe”: Limited to 40 copies.
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 recounting the complicated history of the book.
(39944) $495.00
Special Launch Week Offer:
For a short time only each copy of the book sold will come with a folder containing
four high-quality large-format prints from the original edition
and will be sent at Reduced Shipping Rates*
To view photographs of the books and details of the offers CLICK HERE.
Or place your order direct via our secure website at:
http://www.weiserantiquarian.com
* Prints subject to availability. Offer ends STRICTLY at midnight (EST), May 23rd, 2011ev.