Weiser Antiquarian Books celebrating the beginning of Summer with a new online catalog of Austin Osman Spare rarities including some original art-work.
Among the works being offered for sale are:
The Bookplate Designs of Austin Osman Spare. West Sussex, England: The Keridwen Press / The Bookplate Society, 1988. Special Edition. Hardcover. Octavo. [vi] + 36pp. B/w frontis. & illustrations. Bound in quarter morocco, papered boards, spine lettered in gilt. Cloth slip-case. The “special” edition, limited to 30 numbered copies, signed by the author and with an original bookplate by Austin Osman Spare tipped onto the limitation page. The very limited “special” edition of Robert Ansell’s beautifully-illustrated study of Spare’s bookplate designs. The original bookplate in this volume was designed by Spare for his friend, the broadcaster and writer Dennis Bardens. It is also the final bookplate to be illustrated in the volume, and possibly the last that Spare executed, being printed in 1945, whereas most other of his bookplates were done in the first quarter of the century. From the collection of the late Robert (Taylor) Agasucci (aka Stafford Stone), artist, graphic designer, book illustrator and aficionado of the work of Austin Osman Spare and includes a very interesting letter to Taylor from the author/publisher apologizing for the delay in shipping the book and discussing his plans for the publishing venture which would blossom into Fulgur publishing. A lovely clean Fine copy in very lightly rubbed near Fine slipcase. Item #55445 ISBN: 0951417634Price: $675.00
Austin Spare: Black Magician. Thame: IHO, 2007. First Edition. Softcover. Small octavo. 162pp. Original black printed dark green wrappers. Black and white and color illustrations. Foreword and introductory notes by Clive Harper. Edition limited to 125 numbered copies, only 90 of which were for sale. Oswell Blakeston (1907 – 1985), was a writer and artist who knew Spare from the 1930s onwards. This book collects together a number of writings by Blakeston about Spare, and also reproduces, in color, a selection of magnificent works by Spare. The entire print run sold out immediately upon publication, and probably only a dozen or two copies made it to the USA. In addition to the usual numbering each copy is also accompanied by a color printed bookplate, featuring the book’s title, a reproduction of a ‘vibratory portrait by Spare’ plus the limitation and copy number. Opaque glassine jacket with title and another vibratory portrait printed on inside flap. Still in publisher’s shrinkwrap. New: obviously a lovely Fine copy. Item #55650 Price: $350.00
Read the whole list and weep!
