Arcana:

(RUSCHA, EDWARD). Ruscha, Edward. Los Angeles: Self-Published, 1968. First Edition 1/2400. 8vo. Printed Wrappers with Glassine. Artist's Book. Fine./Very Good.. np (64pp), 10 color illustrations. In a protective clear acetate dustwrapper. "Nine Swimming Pools" is Edward Ruscha's eighth artist book from 1968 - a paean to the beauty of the well-appointed Southern California patio, and the blank white page. A bright, most handsome example of the 1968 first edition (entry B8 in Siri Engberg's "Edward Ruscha: Editions 1959-1999" which is also cited on pages 198-201 of The Hasselblad Center's "The Open Book" and page 113 of "From Fair to Fine: 20th Century Photography Books That Matter") of two thousand, four hundred copies additionally bearing the BOLDLY SIGNED AND DATED PRESENTATION "Love to ... - Ed Ruscha / Nov. 1968" in the year of publication in red ink on the front free endpaper for a colleague at Artforum - where as "Eddie Russia" the artist was still contributing graphic design and pasteup work - showing minor creasing and a few tiny nicks to the extremities of publisher's fragile glassine wrapper. Inventory Number: 026017