A Complete Set of Ruscha's Artist's Books (Six Volumes Signed or Inscribed)

Mostly Southern California, 1963-1978. Uniformly fine to near fine in printed wrappers, with original glassines where called-for. These volumes each housed in custom plexiglass cases, allowing for wall-mounted display.. Few contemporary artists have incorporated the book into their practice quite like Ed Ruscha. As the recent MoMA retrospective (Ed Ruscha / Now Then) so brilliantly displayed, the book was not only a means of distribution for Ruscha, but an integral element of his formal and thematic explorations. Present here: a collection of Ruscha's sixteen artist's books, in near fine to fine condition, with six of the works either inscribed or signed by Ruscha. All First Editions, Namely: (1) Twentysix Gasoline Stations (1963), number 128 of 400 copies, SIGNED by Ruscha in black ink to dedication page; (2) Various Small Fires and Milk (1964), one of 400 copies, INSCRIBED to front endpaper in blue ink ("Hello John / Ed Ruscha / July 27 '66"); (3) Some Los Angeles Apartments (1965), one of 700 copies; (4) Every Building on the Sunset Strip (1966), one of 1000 copies of the first issue with Jaguar building printed to final flap, in silver mylar slipcase, INSCRIBED to copyright page in black ink ("Ed Ruscha / For Adrienne / Best wishes"); (5) Thirtyfour Parking Lots in Los Angeles (1967), one of 2413 copies, INSCRIBED to top margin of front endpaper ("Best wishes to Rudi - Ed Ruscha, 1968"); (6) Royal Road Test (1967), one of 1000 copies; (7) Business Cards (1968), with Billy Al Bengston, one of 1000 copies, SIGNED by both artists to front cover; (8) Nine Swimming Pools and a Broken Glass (1968), one of 2400 copies; (9) Crackers (1969), one of 5000 copies, INSCRIBED to front endpaper ("To Peach / Love- / Ed / 1970"); (10) Babycakes with Weights (1970), one of 1200 copies; (11) Real Estate Opportunities (1970), one of 4000 copies; (12) A Few Palm Trees (1971), one of 3900 copies; (13) Dutch Details (1971), one of approximately 200 copies surviving from the original 3000, with this copy notably absent the typical toning to covers; (14) Records (1971), one of 2000 copies; (15) Colored People (1972), one of 4065 copies; and (16) Hard Light (1978), with Lawrence Weiner, one of 3560 copies.