Twentysix Gasoline Stations by Ruscha, First Edition

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About this Item: A National Excelsior Publication, Alhambra, California, 1963. First edition, one of 400 numbered copies of the artist's first book. Small octavo, original white wrappers, printed in red. This example was one of Ruscha's personal author copies. He presented this copy to a fellow artist whose parents owned Anderson, Ritchie & Simon---the printing firm that produced many of Ruscha's books.Presentation copy, inscribed by Ed Ruscha and additionally signed again by Ruscha on the dedication page. Spine slightly toned, near fine. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box. Ed Ruscha's first book, a seminal "bookwork", one of the most influential conceptual art works, it served as a kind of tonic, liberating the artists' book from many of its traditional emphases. "The first book came out of a play with words. The title came before I even thought about the pictures. I like the word 'gasoline' and I like the specific quality of 'twenty-six.' If you look at the book you will see how well the typography works - I worked on all that before I took the photographs. Above all, the photographs I use are not 'arty' in any sense of the word. . . . One of the purposes of my book has to do with making a mass-produced object. The final product has a very commercial, professional feel to it . . . . I have eliminated all text from my books -- I want absolutely neutral material. My pictures are not that interesting, nor the subject matter . . . my book is more like a collection of 'ready- 56 item 241 mades'. Edward Ruscha, Artforum interview, 1965; Lippard, Six Years: The dematerialization of the art object from 1966 to 1972, p.11. "The most renowned series of artist's books in the history of the genre" (Parr & Badger, The Photobook: A History, Vol. II; Castleman, A Century of Artists Books, p.167.). Seller Inventory # 3101

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About this Item: A National Excelsior Publication, Alhambra, California, 1963. First edition, one of 400 numbered copies of the artist's first book, this is number 180. Small octavo, original white wrappers, printed in red. Signed by Ed Ruscha on the title page. Near fine in the rare original glassine. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box. Ed Ruscha's first book, a seminal "bookwork", one of the most influential conceptual art works, it served as a kind of tonic, liberating the artists' book from many of its traditional emphases. "The first book came out of a play with words. The title came before I even thought about the pictures. I like the word 'gasoline' and I like the specific quality of 'twenty-six.' If you look at the book you will see how well the typography works - I worked on all that before I took the photographs. Above all, the photographs I use are not 'arty' in any sense of the word. . . . One of the purposes of my book has to do with making a mass-produced object. The final product has a very commercial, professional feel to it . . . . I have eliminated all text from my books -- I want absolutely neutral material. My pictures are not that interesting, nor the subject matter . . . my book is more like a collection of 'ready- 56 item 241 mades'. Edward Ruscha, Artforum interview, 1965; Lippard, Six Years: The dematerialization of the art object from 1966 to 1972, p.11. "The most renowned series of artist's books in the history of the genre" (Parr & Badger, The Photobook: A History, Vol. II; Castleman, A Century of Artists Books, p.167.). Seller Inventory # 97975

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About this Item: Alhambra, California: The Cunningham Press., 1963. First edition, first printing, numbered 242 of 400. Original white paper covers printed in red, with the original plain tissue wrapper. Housed in a purpose made quarter black morocco solander box. An excellent near fine bright copy with no inscriptions or stamps and no loose, marked or torn pages. Covers very faintly darkened to the bottom edge. The glassine is darkened and edge-worn with a tear and some associated loss to the front flap but complete. A terrific copy. Ruscha's first book, initiating his much-imitated cut back, literal aesthetic. Produced cheaply and accessibly, Ruscha's signature style is sympathetic to Warhol's Pop Art movement and made without use of heavy paper or glossy hard covers. The twenty six gasoline stations follow Route 66 from West to East; Los Angeles, where Ruscha lives to Oklahoma City, where he grew up. The final station, at Groom in Texas, marks the beginning of the return journey. A scarce book, particularly as nice as this. Further details and images for any of the items listed are available on request. Lucius Books welcomes direct contact with our customers. Seller Inventory # 10201

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About this Item: Cunningham Press, Alhambra, 1962. paperback. Condition: very good(+). Second. 16mo, white wrappers lettered in red. Original glassine dust wrapper, yellowed and with small chips. (Alhambra: Cunningham Press), 1962 (1967). Second Edition. One of 500 unnumbered copies, this one is autographed by Ruscha. His first book. Seller Inventory # 279227

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