Archive for Books

Wanderings in the Great Forests of Borneo by Odoardo Beccari 100

With an Introduction by the Earl of Cranbrook

Published by Oxford University Press

Second Impression 1991

Very Good Condition

For the reader of today, Odoardo Beccari’s Wanderings in the Great Forests of Borneo is of interest for three reasons: first, it provide a description of the natural environment of Borneo at a time when the impact of modern development had been barely felt; secondly, it offers an intriguing social picture of Sarawak at the close of James Brooke’s rule; and thirdly-and most important-the book stands as a vivid record of the diversity of tropical plant life seen through the eyes of a dedicated botanist.

First published in Italian in 1902, the book (which apparently, the Ranee Margaret of Sarawak persuaded Beccari to write) is based on detailed notes and diaries kept during the time of the author’s three visits to Borneo between 1865–when he was only twenty-two–and 1877.

While the narrative retains a youthful enthusiasm, it is also enriched by the reflections of later research and experience and it can be read both for pleasure and information.

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Mambo: Art Irritates Life – 88 -

 

“Are there any fascists in heaven mummy?

“Yes dear, but they all get turned into footballs, so you can kick them around if you want, but its best to ignore them-they probably  want to be kicked anyway”

                      -Mambo Theology

Mambo Graphics Party Limited 1994

ISBN 0646187988

 

“British style and music magazine I-D contacted Mambo in ’92 and asked if the label would be interested in supplying a graphic to be used in an anti-fascist issue that they were compiling for the summer. “Mambo House Music offering the companies dog food for thought” was how Reg interpreted their request. Mambo later decided ‘Theology’ was too good a graphic not to share with our own fascists and reproduced it locally as a poster and T-Shirt print.

 

“The time has come to rise up and overthrow the profligate autocrats of surfing’s discredited and desperate hierachy whose tyranny and ideology have a place only in the darkest corridors of the museums of history…”

“…We shall journey through the cold desolation of culture’s winter, hacking at the limbs of the fluoro zealots who would praise Baywatch and quote Diesel, as we crawl toward the warmth and splendour of a new spring…”

                            – Mambo Manifesto “If you’re not part of the solution – you’re part of the problem (Plastic Bertrand)

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Logical Unsanity Literal Arts Journal #3 – 33 -

The last in a series of 3 limited edition
 Limited varying condition copies remaining
Edition 1: 0/100
Edition 2:-30/200
Edition 3:-40/200

Minus the many modified copies off in the ether. Logical Unsanity #3 contains 30 artists from around the world including Joseph Larkin, Terry Bisson, Kain White, Alex Downs, Richard Powell,  Hakim Bey, Joseph Koehnline, Joshua Beane, John Sacelli, Yarran Jenkins, Karen Mezentsef, David Mankey, Kirk A.C. Marshall, Sarah Kelly, Tad Padaguan, Ben Walker, Charles Eisenstein, Shayna Keyles, Brooke Alexander, Roy Villalobos, Ian Pyper, Jon Beinart, Leszek Kostuj, Leou, Cameron Gray, Bruse Rimell, Kenneth Appleby, Andrea Trenbeath Lowen, Sarah Elston, Daniel Walker & David Beris Edwards

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The Language of Pattern – 52 -

The making and understand of pattern is of especial importance in a period of increasing dependance on visual communication. Inspired by Islamic decorative pattern, the authors of this book, who are all designers, explore pattern step by step, beginning with simple numerical and geometrical relationships and progressing through the dimensions, so that the reader is drawn into a visual and conceptual game of increasing complexity, as pattern and concept develop hand in hand. The authors show how even the most complex patterns are built from simple basic structures. The reader is encourage to use change of scale and dimension creatively, to seek to interrelate ideas, and to adopt a synthesizing approach to experience in order to counteract the analytical attitude that is part of our West cultural heritage.

With 52 pages of line drawings in two colours

Published by Thames and Hudson
30 Bloomsbury Street
London WC1B 3QP

ISBN 0500270414

1st Edition 1974

Once inscribed by M.J. Boothroyd 1975 now still standing strong in Very Good + Condition

An enquire inspired by Islamic decoration

Keith Albarn
Jenny Miall Smith
Stanford Steele
Dinah Walker

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The Frog Princess – 33 -

The Frog Princess translated by Bernard Isaacs (1973) In Very Good — Condition. Some wear and stains.
Was 44 Now 33
Goznak
Central Board,
Ministry of Finance
Of The USSR

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Bilingual English-Spanish Tarot – 99 -

“The Spanish tarot fortune-telling deck is reproduced through the courtesy of Museo Fournier, Vitoria; the cards are based upon original woodcuts dating from the year 1736, first produced by Giusseppe Ottone, in the village of Serravalle Sesia, province of Vercelli, region of Liguria-Piedmontese, Italy. The back of the Spanish Tarot deck is an all-over multiple floral pattern in diamonds within a geometric design, reproducing the same back of the original pack of 1736. The Fournier Museum contains quite an important quantity of ancient packs of playing cards as well as an interesting collection of ancient Tarots.”

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The Art of Anarchy by Flavio Costantini – 80 -

The Art of Anarchy by Flavio Costantini published by Cienfeugos Press in 1975
Very Good – Condition. Some foxing
Once a part of the infamous Brisbane Institute for Social Ecology Library
ISBN 0904564037

“It was tempting to put suitably heroic captions to these illustrations. But Costantini’s drawings are so wonderfully expressive and evocative that we have decided not to ‘gild refined gold, to paint the lily’ and left them with their original captions… the dry, indifferent or malicious comments of the press and the historians which is the way the world came to know of the deeds here portrayed…”

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Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland – 500 -

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, Illustrated by Charles Blackman, Edited by Nadine Amadio
Published by A H & A W Reed Pty Ltd in 1982
In Very Good ++ Condition with Dust Jacket  – 500 -
Two other copies available online
Has inscription on title page

“Alice in Wonderland, that timeless and delightful children’s tale by Lewis Carroll, has here been lavishly illustrated by well known Australian artist Charles Blackman. Very few fully-illustrated editions of Alice have appeared since the nineteenth-century version illustrated by John Tenniel and this book is believed to be the first full-colour illustrated edition by a major artist.

The thirty-five colour painting and numerous black-and-white illustrations for the book have been carefully selected by Nadine Amadio. These paintings will make it of interest to art lovers the world over, and undoubtedly many copies will find a home among them…”

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A Dozen Or So Dreams To Build On…. – 33 -

A very elegant limited edition experimental poetry book with drawings and custom papers in Very Good ++ Condition from 1974
Was 40 Now 33

 

 

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Anamorphic Art by Jurgis Baltusaitis – 130 -

Anamorphic Art by Jurgis Baltrusaitis translated by W.J. Strachan Chevalier des Arts et Lettres published by Harry N. Abrams, Inc. New York
1977  Was 220 Now 130  | In Near Fine Condition

Anamorphic Art is a translation of Anamorphoses ou magie artificielle des effets merveilleux, Olivier Perrin Editeur, 1969

First published in Europe, this important book has in large part stimulated the current excitement about anamorphosis, the artistic phenomenon that has been–and is–playing to record-breaking crowds in museums in Amsterdam, Paris, Boston, New York, Chicago, Cleveland, Washington, and Atlanta.

Known at least as far back as Leonardo da Vinci, the anamorphosis (from the Greek ana, “again,” and morphe, “form”)–an image distorted so that it is only intelligible if viewed from an eccentric point of view or through reflection in a cruved mirror–has fascinated artists for hundreds of years. Very popular in the 17th and 18th centuries, it fell into disuse with the rise of photography.

This pioneer work by Professor Baltrusaitis creates a new interest in the whole issue of illusion and perspective in a world attuned to Pop art, perceptual psychology, and spectator participation in the arts. His book covers every aspect of the subject, describing and explaining techniques–with the aid of over 120 illustrations–and placing anamorphic art in its historical context.

An internationally renowned scholar, now based in Paris, Professor Balrusaitis has taught and lectured in his native Lithuania and in France, England, and the United States and is the author of numerous publications in the field of art history and the history of ideas.

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