Search Results: Titles starting with B from Ursus Books

1929. CASSANDRE, A. M. ,[Bifur Typeface]. BIFUR WITH Words only, are important: alone, a letter is nothing. 2 volumes: 28 and 16 pp.; some pages intereaved with colored cellophane sheets. 8vos [260 x 175 mm], original wrappers in a new cloth folding box. Paris: Deberny & Peignot, 1929 and France: N.P., N.D. Cassandre designed the first booklet to introduce his typeface "Bifur" for the first time. In addition to the brilliant layout, Cassandre provide illustrations to accompany the type, creating an artist's book as well as a type-specimen book. Now rare, both were printed in small editions and never offered for sale. Fine copies of these two small masterpieces of modern design (Words... loose in binding).

1968. Los Angeles County Museum of Art. BILLY. Unpaginated exhibition catalogue with 9 color and 43 b&w illustrations. Wide 4to, sandpaper wraps. 1968. A Catalogue designed by Ed Ruscha, this artist's book is wrapped in sandpaper, and bound with nuts, bolts and pink ribbon.

1970. RUSCHA, Edward. Babycakes with Weights. [4] pp. Illustrated with 22 black and white photographic illustrations. 8vo., 192 x 155 mm, bound in publisher's light blue paper wrappers with pink ribbon for stitching. [Los Angeles]: Edward Ruscha, 1970. First Edition. One of Ruscha's celebrated early photographic books. The photos record one slightly hungry-looking baby and 21 photographs of assorted cakes, pies, sweetbreads, pastries and tarts with the weight of each item. The title on the binding is printed in light green felt with a soft fuzzy texture and the pink ribbon is tied into a knot on the verso. A fine copy. Johnson, Artists' Books in the Modern Era 1870-2000 No. 157.

1928. HALEIZOVU. Barva vladne svetem. 216 pp. Illustrated with 6 full page plates, 5 of which are in colour. 8vo., bound in publisher's colourfully designed wrappers. Prague: Zmatlik a Palicka, 1928. A scarce little book on the basics of spectrology and the effects of colour on human life. A rare book, with OCLC listing only one copy worldwide, in the Czech National Library.

1998. KIRKEBY, Per. Bemerkungen ueber die Farben. By Ludwig Wittgenstein. Illustrated with 4 Prints on Japon paper by Per Kirkeby. Folio, bound in publisher's cloth-backed boards by Christian Zwang in the original slipcase. Muenster: Kleinheinrich, 1998. A handsome illustrated book by the Danish artist, Per Kirkeby, whose work is influenced by the Austrian philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein. The book forms a unique combination of twentieth century art and colour theory. The four prints consist of a line etching, a drypoint, a sugar lift aquatint and an aquatint. One of an edition of 180 copies, signed by Kirkeby. As new.

1739. SHOOTING FESTIVAL. Beschreibung des Kaiserl. Gnaden-und Frey-Schiessen, welches von ihro Kaiser-und Koenigliche Catholischen Majestaet Carolo Sexto der Wienerischen Burgerschaft durch vierzehn Tag gegeben worden. In der Jahr 1739. 68 pp. text and 10 engraved plates, including double-sheet frontispiece and 4 full-sheet and folding, woodcut armorial headpiece. Small folio, 320 x 205 mm, bound in contemporary sheep. In a half-morocco folding box. Vienna: Johann Peter von Ghelen, [1739]. First Edition, a particularly handsome example of this rare genre. Shooting festivals originated in Germany and date back to the Middle Ages. The present commemoration of a 14-day rifle contest held for the citizens in Vienna in 1739 by Charles VI lists the participants and winners and illustrates the proceedings in engraved plates by Elias Schaffhauser after Franz Tobias Kollman, and by Andreas & Joseph Schmuzer. The large fold-out frontispiece shows the entire shooting field with… Read More

1989. GERZSO, Gunther. The Besieged/El Sitiado. By Octavio Paz, translated by Eliot Weinberger. With an etching by Gunther Gerzso. 4to., cloth covered board in cloth covered slipcase. San Francisco: Limestone Press, 1989. Gunther Gerzso has created a stunning frontispiece color etching for Octavio Paz's poem. Printed in letterpress, Paz's poem is presented in both English and Spanish. The English is printed in black while the Spanish is printed in scarlet red creating a very dramatic visual effect since the two languages are each printed on the same page. Signed on the colophon by Gerzo and Paz. One of an edition of 200.

2003. LALANNE, François-Xavier. Bestaire Ordinaire; Bestaire Necessaire; Bestaire Legendaire. 3 Volumes. Illustrated by François-Xavier Lalanne with 36 prints using a different technique such as aquatint, etching or lithography. Folio. 380 x 285 mm, loose in publisher's wrappers and slipcase. Paris: Les Presses de Serendip, 2003-2006. An immaculate set of the three fabulous bestiaries created by François-Xavier Lalanne in collaboration with Patrick Mauries at les Presses de Serendip. The illustrations are the work of Francois-Xavier Lalanne, half of the legendary duo known as Les Lalanne, although they rarely collaborated on individual pieces, and as here, François-Xavier preferred to create pieces inspired by the animal kingdom, while Claude favoured the botanical. Bestaire Ordinaire is number 30 of 63 copies, with the plates and the colophon initialled by Lalanne. Bestaire Legendaire is Number 30 of 63 copies, with the plates and the colophon initialled… Read More

1946. MASSON, André. Bestiaire. With an introduction by Georges Duthuit. Illustrated with 12 original lithographs and reproductions of 9 drawings by Masson. Folio, 415 x 315 mm, loose as issued in original decorated wrappers over boards. In a new linen cloth folding box. New York: Curt Valentin, 1946. A fine copy of one of Masson's most important books, with 2 signed proof plates printed before letters,(5 and 6), laid in. Bestaire was the first of Masson's comprehensive albums to be executed in original lithographs, and the first Masson work since Sacrifices (1936) to contain original Masson prints. "Masson's metaphor of the bestiality of humanity is a departure from his usual metaphysical view, and it stands as his unique and complete foray into personal social discourse" (Saphire). "In Masson's bestiary, man is the beast -- more sinister and savage than the rest of the animal world. The network of heavily inked black lines found in the… Read More

1921. JESPERS, Oscar. Bezette Stad. By Paul van Ostayen. [152] pp., illustrated with woodcuts by Oscar Jespers. 4to, 285 x 220 mm., bound in original illustrated wrappers, in a new cloth box. Antwerp: Uitgave van het Sienjaal, 1921. Belgian avant-garde bookmaking at its best. The innovative use of typography, combined with dramatic woodcuts, make this one of the more "forward-looking" books produced in the twenties. Oscar Jespers (1887-1970), Belgian sculptor in the Constructivist and Expressionist movements, was part of a group of artists and writers in Antwerp who gathered around the poet Paul van Ostayen, a Belgian dandy whose poetry and writings were greatly influenced by the Expressionist and Dadaist schools. Some minor wear to the wrappers, overall in unusually fine condition. One of 500 copies on Registre paper, of a total edition of 540. This copy is unsigned and unnumbered. Johnson, Artists' Books in the Modern Era 1870-2000, No. 35. Andel 128. Fundacion Juan… Read More

2015. HOYEM, Andrew. Bibliography of the Arion Press. The First One Hundred Books. Foreword by Kevin Starr. Introduction by Glenn Todd. Prologue by Peter Kraus. 308 pp. Small folio, bound in publisher's cloth and slipcase. San Francisco: Arion Press, 2015. Published to celebrate the publication of the first hundred titles of the Arion Press, this beautifully produced, elaborate bibliography, is a fitting tribute to the splendid collection of books printed by the Press since its founding in 1974. Each book is listed with a full bibliographical entry, additional information about the book, and illustrations. This book is an invaluable record of this unique and outstanding Press, which is keeping alive the tradition of printing important books in beautiful and textually important editions. Issued in an edition of 500 copies.

1900. JAPANESE ORNAMENTAL WOODBLOCK PRINTS. Bijutsu Kai. Collection of Pictures Regarding Colour Designs for Japanese Textiles Costumes. Five parts in one volume. Five folding plates and 18 full-page coloured woodblock prints per section, for a total of 95 original illustrations. 8vo, 232 x 160 mm., bound in Japanese accordion style with Japanese fold pages and silk-thread stitched spine, in new linen cloth folding box with leather spine label. Kyoto: Geisodo, [ca. 1900]. A superb set of this important compendium of early Japanese textile designs, showing a great variety of patterns and scenes. The woodblock prints are often exceptional Japanese images very much in the sabi-wabi tradition. Not in Hillier, The Art of the Japanese Book (1987).

1902. ANSTRUTHER, G. Eliot. The Bindings of To-morrow. A record of the work of the Guild of Women-Binders and of the Hampstead Bindery. Illustrated with 50 full-page chromolithographs by Griggs. Modern half pigskin over boards. London: Printed for the Guild of Women-Binders & Williams & Norgate, 1902. The Guild of Women-Binders was established in 1898 as "a way of publicizing and promoting the sale of books bound by women" (Tidcombe pp. 27-8). In 1899 a workshop was set up for the Guild in Hampstead where members could train and work. The Bindery closed shortly after the exhibition for which this book was produced, while the Guild continued until 1904. Despite its short history, the Guild is a notable part of binding history as the binders produced "designs that were freer and less stereotyped than those of men in the trade, and they readily experimented with new techniques". One of an edition of 500 copies.

2001. KAPOOR, Anish. Blackness From Her Womb. [10] pp. Illustrated with 13 etchings with whiteground aquatints. Folio, 430 x 380 mm, bound by Klaus-Ulrich Rötzscher in full orange-brown vellum in a red stained vellum-covered slipcase. Santa Monica: Edition Jacob Samuel, [published date: 2001]. A handsome example of contemporary bookmaking by one of today's leading artists. Anish Kapoor was born in India to a Hindu father and a Jewish-Iraqi mother. He moved to London in 1973 and began working in wood and mixed media. In the 1980s, his work switched directions and he began working in stone and metal. Kapoor represented Great Britain at the Venice Biennale in 1990 and was awarded the Turner Prize in 1991. The book was designed and printed by Jacob Samuel. The plates were made in the artist's studio in London in November, 2000. This is one of an edition of 30 copies, of which only 12 were issued in bound form. Signed by Kapoor on the colophon. As new condition.

1725. Weigl, Johann Christoph (1654-1725). Blumen Duft Nuernberg, Weigl, ca. 1700. Original copper-plate engravings by one of the master botanical engravers of the baroque era. Paper size 8" x 12 5/8." Set of 8 engravings:

1816. MAYRHOFFER, Johann Nepomuk. Anleitung zur Blumen-Zeichnung. 2 ff., illustrated with 14 full-page lithographs of flowers. Oblong 4to, 240 x 380 mm., bound in old blue wrappers, preserved in green half-morocco folding case. Munich: Im Verlag der lithographischen Kunst-Anstalt bey der Feyertags-Schule, 1816. An extremely attractive drawing manual which is also an early example of German lithography. "Mayrhoffer's flowers were drawn in the idiom of eighteenth-century flower plates, and his careful and unobtrusive chalk-work provided an ideal basis for hand-colouring" (Twyman, Lithography 1800-1850, p. 20). First published in 1810, this second edition depicts various stages of drawings of flowers, from the preliminary outline to the finished drawing, all executed in lithograph, with chalk drawings prepared directly on the stone by the artist himself. Johann Nepomuk Mayrhoffer (1764-1832), who describes himself on the title-page as… Read More

1854. WASHINGTON, D.C. Bohn's Hand-Book of Washington. With an Appendix. Illustrated with twenty engravings of public buildings, etc. By Cassimir Bohn. 104 pp., illustrated with engraved frontispiece, 17 tinted full-page lithographs, fold out lithographic map of Washington, D.C., engraved fold out plan of the House and Senate chambers. 12mo, 148 x 92 mm., bound in publisher's blue cloth with gilt front cover and spine, cover design repeated in blind on the bottom cover, a.e.g. Washington, D.C.: Cassimir Bohn. sold by all the Booksellers, 1854. Second edition. A pre-Civil War guide to the United State's capital, embellished with attractive tinted lithographs of its famous buildings and monuments set against a fine blue sky. This guide finds the city in a state of transition, as the rapidly expanding country required a larger Capital Building, and the Washington Monument remains only a third complete (construction wouldn't be finished until 1884). Also illustrated are the White… Read More

1932. BEZBORODOV, S. Bolsheviki otkryli Sibir. [The Bolsheviks discovered Siberia]. 170, [6] pp., illustrated throughout with photographs and photomontage. Small 4to, 225 x 180 mm., bound in publisher's decorated dark blue cloth. Moscow; Leningrad: Co-operative Publishing Society of Foreign Workers in the U.S.S.R., OGIZ, 1932. First Edition. A wonderfully designed children's book about the fulfillment of the first Five Year Plan in Siberia. Presumably only a Soviet child could have been interested in such an arcane topic. Early ownership inscription on the title, overall a fine copy.

1997. CRAIG-MARTIN, Michael. Book. Illustrated with 20 colour screen prints and 2 loose signed screen prints. Oblong folio, bound in publisher's grey cloth in a matching clamshell box. London: Alan Cristea Gallery & Ridinghouse Editions, 1997. Book is renowned British contemporary artist Michael Craig-Martin's oversized artist's book consisting of twenty full page screen printed images of common objects. One of one hundred and fifty copies signed and numbered by Craig-Martin in pencil on the colophon with two additional loose colour screen prints of the images yellow "Cello" and purple "Book" individually signed and numbered (51/150) by the artist in pencil on the verso laid into a grey cloth chemise, as issued.

2017. CRANE, Hart. The Bridge. Illustrated by Joel Shapiro, with an essay by Langdon Hammer. Scroll format, 343 x 1270 mm., with seven woodblock prints by Joel Shapiro, an introduction by Langdon Hammer, and two photographs by Michael Kenna. In a linen box. San Francisco: The Arion Press, 2017. The Bridge was conceived by Hart Crane in 1923, when he was twenty-three years old, and published in 1930. After his death in 1932, Crane grew into a figure of legend and is now regarded as one of the great American poets of the twentieth century and The Bridge as his greatest work. A specially commissioned essay on the poem by Yale Professor Langdon Hammer is included in a separate bound volume. Joel Shapiro, born in 1941, is a renowned abstract sculptor who has also been active as a printmaker, particularly in the medium of woodblock prints. His images here are untitled but are suggestive of themes in the poem. One of 300 copies, numbered and signed by the artist.