March 2011 | Rebecca Rego Barry

Catalogue Review: Ars Libri

Catalogue Review: Ars Libri 158

158a.jpgSince 1976, Ars Libri of Boston has built up an incredible stock of rare and out-of-print art books, including topics related to art history, architecture, archaeology, photography, and the decorative arts. Its newest catalogue, #158: 33 books from a private collection is but one small, select sampling.

Two unrecorded advertising papillons (posters) for a German Dada exhibit are here ($9,500) -- excellent examples of the focus on modern art and the avant garde for which Ars Libri is known by collectors. There's also a fine first edition of L'amour fou by Andre Breton with photographs by Brassai and Cartier-Bresson, published in Paris in 1937 ($950).

Several Max Ernst items are likely to draw attention. The catalogue calls the rare original limited edition of Les malheurs des immortals by Paul Eluard and Max Ernst, "one of Ernst's greatest achievements in collage and book illustration" ($7,500). Cubist Fernand Leger is also represented with three editions for which he provided illustration.

A complete run of Wendingen, an art and architecture journal published from 1918-1931, housed in six fitted clamshell cases ($30,000) brings this slim and colorful catalogue to a powerful close.

Download a PDF of the catalogue here, or contact Ars Libri for a print version.