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ALPHABET FOR ADULTS: SIGNED BY MAN RAY
(MAN RAY). Man Ray. Beverly Hills, CA: Copley Galleries, 1948. First Edition 1/500. 4to. 1/4 Linen Over Boards. Artist's Book. Good +/No Jacket - As Issued. np (80pp), 39 monochrome illustrations + cover. In a protective clear acetate dust wrapper. "Alphabet for Adults" is Man Ray's charming 1948 illustrated abecedaire published during the artist's residence in Hollywood by his gallerist William Copley. It presents thirty-nine whimsical drawings with captions ranging from anchor to zinc that were printed by Lynton R. Kistler, who was Merle Armitage's collaborator of choice in the same period. An internally bright, most handsome example of this uncommon item limited to five hundred unnumbered copies in the printer's original clear plastic overlay additionally BOLDLY SIGNED "Man Ray" in pencil on the title page showing a bit of typical mild age-toning to its covers and pastedowns along with some light soiling and traces of contact with moisture to the boards. It was acquired by us directly from the library of Man Ray's friend, the late, great Los Angeles artist, collector, and educator Emerson Woelffer and bears his embossed gold foil ownership label on the front pastedown. Inventory Number: 022555