Complete set of 16 Ed Ruscha Books [ALL FIRST EDITIONS, ALL SIGNED BY RUSCHA]
NP, n/d. Softcover. 1) Twentysix Gasoline Stations. 1/400. 8vo. 48pp. 1963. Photographs from this book inspired a number of the artist's paintings, drawings, and prints of gas stations. Slightly chipped at top of spine on glassine, spine slightly cocked with little yellow discoloration on head and tail of spine. Very light stain on top front edge, not affecting the type. Near fine.
2) Various Small Fires and Milk. 1/400. 8vo. 48pp. 1964. One-inch split along top front edge of glassine, minor chipping on head and tail of glassine spine. Two light vertical ink stripes on page fore-edge. Fine.
3) Some Los Angeles Apartments. 1/700. 8vo. 48pp. 1965. A number of the apartment buildings shown in this work also were the subjects of a series of drawings Ruscha made the same year. Glassine 1/4" smaller than book, as issued. Minor age toning on glassine. Fine.
4) Every Building on the Sunset Strip. 1/1000. 8vo. 1 continuos photographic accordion-fold out. 1966. Signed in pen on top-edge of silver-covered slipcase. Ruscha made a series of editioned photographs based in part on this book in 1995. Spine is yellowed with center-crease from being opened, slight scuffing on slipcase, otherwise fine.
5) Thirtyfour Parking Lots in Los Angeles. 1/2413. 4to. 48pp. 1967. Pictorial flap on last page, as issued. The photographs in this book were taken by Art Alanis. Ruscha made a series of editioned photographs based on this work in 1999. Fine.
6) Royal Road Test. Ruscha, Edward; Mason Williams; Patrick Blackwell. 1/1000. 60pp. 1967. Spiral-bound wraps. Slightly creased on top right corner of front wrapper. Minor age yellowing to outer edges of interior pages. Near fine.
7) Nine Swimming Pools and a Broken Glass. 1/2400. 64pp. 1968. Small 'Pasadena Art Museum' sticker on free front endpaper. Illustrated with color reproductions of photographs. Ruscha made a series of editioned photographs based on this work in 1997. Slight age yellowing to outer edges of interior pages. Near fine.
8) Business cards. (Collaboration with Billy Al Bengston). 1/1000. 32pp. 1968. Faux wood-grain paper stock with mounted b/w photograph of Ruscha and Bengston, dated Jan. 3, 1968. Signed by Ruscha and Bengston on cover, additionally signed by Ruscha on inside cover. Bengston's business card with photographic card stapled onto blank page in rear, as issued. Business card is crumpled in each copy of the book as a nod to the "Dento" series of paintings he did in the 1960's. Photographs by Larry Bell and Ken Price. Fine condition.
9) Crackers. 1/5000. 240pp. 1969. Wraps with original printed dust jacket. Small 'Pasadena Art Museum' sticker on free front endpaper. This work illustrates Mason Williams' short-story "How to Derive the Maximum Enjoyment from Crackers." Story is printed on the inside back flap of the dj. The characters in the photographs are Larry Bell, Lèon Bing, Rudi Gernreich and Tommy Smothers. Crackers, which was intentionally photographed as if it were a collection of film stills, was the basis for Ruscha's 1970 film Premium. No glassine. Small chip on bottom front-flap of dj, otherwise fine.
10) Real Estate Opportunities. 1/4000. 48pp. 1970. 25 full-page b/w reproductions of photographs of Real Estate in the Los Angeles area. Glassine yellowed on spine, otherwise fine.
11) Babycakes. 1/1200. 52pp. 1970. Bound in wraps with pink satin ribbon. This book was part of the portfolio Artists and Photographs, published under art dealer Marian Goodman's imprint, Multiples, Inc. Photographs by Ed Ruscha, Elizabeth Claman, Sid Felsen, Jerry McMillan and Danna Ruscha. Some light staining on back cover, faded and soiled around edges, otherwise fine.
12) A Few Palm Trees. 1/3900. 64pp. 1971. Before creating this book, Ruscha had considered making a book called Seventeen Hollywood Palm Trees. The project which was never realized, evolved into A Few Palm trees. Slight rubbing on edges of rear wrapper. Near fine.
13) Dutch Details. 1/3000. 23pp. 1971. A Publication of the Octopus Foundation within the framework of Sonsbeek 71. 4 1/2" x 15" wraps, closed dimensions; each leaf unfolds to double width. This work documents the Dutch communities of Veendam, Musselkanaal, Stadskanaal, and Ter Apel. "The photographs were taken only at bridge locations and the bridges themselves used as a walkway by the artist to take the pictures with a hand-held camera." Some vertical creasing along top edge, slight soiling on front wrapper. Original version without being trimmed, as issued. Near fine.
14) Records. 1/2000. 72pp. 1971. The records pictured in the book are from the artist's collection. Photographs of the albums by Jerry McMilan. No glassine, as issued. Fine.
15) Colored People. 1/4065. 64pp. 1972. Plates in color. No glassine, as issued. Fine.
16) Hard Light. 1/3560. 120pp. Color pictorial wraps. Photographs by Ruscha, Lawrence Weiner, and Susan Haller. The characters were played by Shelley Chamberlain, Suzanne Chandler, and Susan Haller. Pictorial wraps. Fine. vg. Item #22032
All 16 are first editions, profusely illustrated, and signed in pencil by Ed Ruscha. All in near fine to fine condition.
Price: $160,000.00