Arcana:

(COLSON, GREG). Colson, Greg. Los Angeles: The Lapis Press, 1988. First Edition 1/35. Folio. Full-Leather in Slipcase. Artist's Book. Near Fine/No Jacket - As Issued. np (30pp), 1 letterpress colophon, title page + table of contents, 7 lithographs, 2 etchings, 1 color photograph, and 1 photogravure. Issued in 1989 by Sam Francis' Lapis Press, "Corn Belt" is an exquisitely produced artist book by noted Los Angeles-based artist Greg Colson. Bound in full terra cotta-colored pigskin, it contains eleven 16 ½ x 13 ¼" artworks in various media and is housed in a pictorial paper-over-boards slipcase. A brand new, most handsome example of this exceedingly uncommon item that was acquired directly from the artist limited to thirty-five copies NUMBERED (10/35) AND SIGNED "Greg Colson" in pencil on the colophon. PLEASE NOTE: Additional shipping costs are required for this item beyond our standard rates due to its weight and value - we will inform you of the applicable amount at time of purchase. Inventory Number: 025036

(FRANCIS, SAM). Agee, William C.. New York & Chicago: Richard Gray Gallery, 2000. First Edition. 4to. Pictorial Wrappers. Artist Monograph. Very Good.. 48pp, 14 color illustrations + b&w cover. With a detailed chronology. This is the catalogue published in conjunction with a posthumous 2000 Richard Gray Gallery exhibition of fourteen "edge" paintings on both canvas and paper by Sam Francis executed between 1964 and 1968. A handsome example showing some creasing to the rear foredge corner of the rear cover. It has been priced accordingly. LC 96-079258 Inventory Number: 025214

(FRANCIS, SAM). Agee, William C.. New York & Chicago: Richard Gray Gallery, 2000. First Edition. 4to. Pictorial Wrappers. Artist Monograph. As New.. 48pp, 14 color illustrations + b&w cover. With a detailed chronology. This is the catalogue published in conjunction with a posthumous 2000 Richard Gray Gallery exhibition of fourteen "edge" paintings on both canvas and paper by Sam Francis executed between 1964 and 1968. A pristine example. LC 96-079258 Inventory Number: 025213

(FRANCIS, SAM). Burchett-Lere, Debra & William C. Agee. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 2011. First Edition. Large 4to. Cloth in Pictorial Dust Jacket + two DVDs in a Linen Clamshell Box. Catalogue Raisonné. As New/As New. 0-520-26430-4

In conjunction with the publication of "Light on Fire...", we are offering a 10% discount off of The University of California Press list price of $495.00 for this massive, scholarly catalogue raisonné Sam Francis' painted work.

Inventory Number: E211024SFCR

(FRANCIS, SAM). Francis, Sam. Los Angeles: Felix Landau Gallery, 1969. First Edition. Small Square 8vo. Stapled Printed Wrappers. Artist Monograph. Near Fine.. np (28pp), 26 b&w illustrations. With an exhibition checklist. This is the slender twenty-eight page catalogue published in conjunction with a 1969 Felix Landau Gallery exhibition of twenty-six paintings on canvas and paper executed between 1963 and 1969 by the noted Las Angeles abstract master Sam Francis. A most handsome example of this uncommon item showing some light soiling and patination to its matte white wrappers. Inventory Number: 026781

(FRANCIS, SAM). Francis, Sam. NP. ND (1973).: Self-Published. First Edition. 12mo. Wrappers. Artist's Book. Fine./No Jackets - As Issued.. np (36pp), no illustrations. In a protective clear acetate dustwrapper. Printed offset without illustrations, this charming little self-published collection of brief aphorisms by the late, great Sam Francis precedes the 1986 Lapis Press edition by over a decade. A bright, most handsome unique example of this exceedingly uncommon true first printing issued hors commerce without dust jacket to be given by the artist to his friends additionally BEARING A BOLD SELF PORTRAIT DRAWING INITIALED AND DATED "S.F. / '73" in black ink on the front cover. PLEASE NOTE: Additional shipping costs are required for this item beyond our standard rates due to its value - we will inform you of the applicable amount at time of purchase. Inventory Number: 025572

(FRANCIS, SAM). Francis, Sam. Santa Monica, CA: The Lapis Press, 1984. First Edition Thus 1/600. 12mo. Wrappers. Artist's Book. Very Good./No Jacket.. np (36pp), no illustrations. Designed and printed by Jaime Robles. In a protective clear acetate dustwrapper. Printed by hand letterpress without illustrations, this charming little collection of brief aphorisms by the late, great Sam Francis is one of the very first publications of the artist's own Lapis Press. While the colophon calls for six hundred copies, we know from the publisher that the vast majority of the print run was never jacketed, signed, nor distributed. An internally bright, most handsome example lacking the dust jacket and showing some mild soiling to its matte white wrappers. It has been priced accordingly. Inventory Number: 023056

(FRANCIS, SAM). Francis, Sam. New York. ND (1957).: Martha Jackson Gallery. First Edition. Small Folio. Printed Paper. Exhibition Poster. Near Fine.. One 13 ½ x 9 ¾" sheet printed offset recto only in black, white and purple, 1 illustration. This is the striking poster published in conjunction with Sam Francis' second ever American one-man exhibition held at New York's Martha Jackson Gallery between November 25th and December 20th 1957. A most handsome, flat and unmailed example of this uncommon, lovely ephemeral object showing the slightest bit of age-toning. Inventory Number: 007749

(FRANCIS, SAM). Hulten, Pontus. Stockholm, SWEDEN: Heland Wetterling Gallery, 1987. First Edition. Oblong 4to. Stapled Illustrated Wrappers. Artist Monograph. Fine.. np (10pp), 8 color illustrations + color cover. Text in English. With a biography. This is the slender ten page catalogue published in conjunction with a 1987 Heland Wetterling Gallery exhibition of nine recent paintings by Sam Francis. A most handsome example. Inventory Number: 021353

(FRANCIS, SAM). Lembark, Connie W. & Ruth Fine. New York: Hudson Hills Press, Incorporated, 1992. First Edition. 4to. Cloth in Jackets, Slipcased. Catalogue Raisonné. As New/As New. 412 + 200pp, profusely illustrated in color and b&w. With a bibliography and exhibition history. This is the fully illustrated catalogue raisonné of the four hundred and seventy-eight lithographs, intaglio etchings, screenprints, posters, and "Anima" prints executed by the late, great abstract artist Sam Francis between 1960 and 1990. A brand new, most handsome example of the two volume reference set still shrinkwrapped in the publisher's decorative linen slipcase. PLEASE NOTE: Additional shipping costs are required for this item beyond our standard rates due to its weight and value - we will inform you of the applicable amount at time of purchase. 1-55595-062-0 Inventory Number: 018707

(FRANCIS, SAM). Malmberg, Roxana Pirovano. Zurich, SWITZERLAND: Galerie Proarta, 1994. First Edition 1/1000. 4to. Illustrated Self-Wrappers. Artist Monograph. Near Fine.. 72pp, 24 color and 7 b&w illustrations. Text in German. With a biography, exhibition history, bibliography and filmography. This is the substantial catalogue published in conjunction with a 1994 memorial exhibition of works by noted abstract artist Sam Francis held at Zurich's Galerie Proarta. A most handsome example. Inventory Number: 021257

(FRANCIS, SAM) (NOISE). Maeght, Adrien & Aki Kuroda, Editors. Paris: Maeght Editeur, 1989. First Edition. Small Folio. Illustrated Wrappers. Art Journal. Near Fine.. np (62pp), profusely illustrated in color and b&w. Text in French. This is the tenth installment of Maeght Editeur's beautifully produced, short-lived contemporary art and literary journal, "Noise". It features contributions on or by Philippe Sollers, Georges Jeanclos, Stephane Mallarme, Pierre Nivollet (illustrated with eight original full-color lithographs), Marcelin Pleynet, Pierre Buraglio (illustrated with eight original two-color lithographs), Jacqueline Risset, Annik Blyau, and Dante. Its cover is an original color lithograph by Sam Francis. A handsome example showing just a bit of overall wear and handling. ISSN 0765-121-X Inventory Number: 018563

(FRANCIS, SAM). Ooka, Makoto, Yoshiaki Tono & Mamoru Yonekura. Tokyo: Ogawa Art Foundation & Yayoi Gallery, 1987. First Edition. 4to. Wrappers in Jacket, Slipcased. Artist Monograph. Fine./Fine.. np (112pp), 40 color illustrations. Text in English and Japanese. With an exhibition checklist, biography and exhibition history. This beautifully produced, substantial catalogue was published in conjunction with a 1987 Japanese retrospective of forty works drawn from the Idemitsu collection in Tokyo by noted abstract artist Sam Francis executed between 1948 and 1981. A brand new, most handsome example in the publisher's unprinted glassine jacket and die-cut cardboard slipcase with pastedown, as issued. Inventory Number: 020517

(FRANCIS, SAM). Pudelko, Christoph. Bonn, GERMANY: Galerie Pudelko, 1993. First Edition. 12mo. Printed Wrappers. Artist Monograph. Fine.. np (48pp), 20 color illustrations. Text in German. This is the small format catalogue published in conjunction with a Galerie Pudelko exhibition at Art Basel 1993 of twenty works on paper produced by noted abstract artist Sam Francis between 1954 and 1990. A brand new, pristine example of this uncommon item. Inventory Number: 021043

(FRANCIS, SAM). Schneider, Pierre, Francois Cheng, Peter Plagens & Eric De Chassy. Beverly Hills, CA: Gagosian Gallery, 1996. First Edition. 4to. Stapled Self-Wrappers. Artist Monograph. Fine.. np (72pp), 27 color illustrations + b&w cover. Designed by the Grenfell Press. This is the elegant catalogue published in conjunction with a posthumous 1996 Gagosian Gallery Beverly Hills exhibition of twenty-seven paintings and works on paper by Sam Francis executed between 1965 and 1983. A brand new, most handsome example of this uncommon item. LC 96-079258 Inventory Number: 019202

(FRANCIS, SAM). Segalen, Victor. Translated by Michael Taylor. Santa Monica, CA: The Lapis Press, 1987. First Edition Thus 1/150 Deluxe. Tall 8vo. Lithographic Boards. Illustrated Book. Fine/No Jacket - As Issued. np, illustrated in b&w, with an original color lithograph as the cover. Designed by Les Ferriss, Jaime Robles, and Jack W. Stauffacher. "The first edition of "Steles" contained forty-eight poems and was printed on the press of the Lazarist fathers at Beidang in Northern China in August, 1912. It was probably composed by Chinese hands, but each detail of the book from the round mark used to indicate breaks in the poems, to the yellow ribbons which made opening the slender volume an act of ceremonial unbinding, was chosen by the author Victor Segalen - a thirty-four year old officer in the French Navy who had arrived in the Far East two years earlier. Only eighty-one copies were made". This exquisitely adorned, translated edition of that extraordinarily scarce tome was issued by Sam Francis' Lapis Press in 1987. It features calligraphy by Sam's great friend Walasse Ting (of "One Cent Life"), typesetting by Patrick Reagh, and its beautiful wraparound cover is an original Sam Francis lithograph. A most handsome example of the deluxe edition limited to one hundred and fifty unnumbered copies SIGNED by Sam Francis and translator Michael Taylor in black ink at the rear colophon, as issued. 0-932499-22-8 Inventory Number: 023411

(FRANCIS, SAM). Selz, Gabrielle. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 2021. First Edition. 8vo. Cloth in Pictorial Dust Jacket. Artist Biography. As New/As New. 0-520-31071-3

Pre-order your copy of this engaging new study of the Art and Life of Sam Francis. Author Gabrielle Selz will be signing for us on Sunday, November  12th, and we will begin shipping orders the following Tuesday. Please email us at books@arcanabooks.com with any questions. Thanks!

392pp, 22 b&w and 11 color photos illustrations. "Light on Fire" is the first comprehensive biography of Sam Francis, one of the most important American abstract artists of the twentieth century. Based on Gabrielle Selz’s unprecedented access to Francis' files, as well as private correspondence and hundreds of interviews, this book traces the extraordinary and ultimately tragic journey of a complex and charismatic artist who first learned to paint as a former air-corps pilot encased for three years in a full-body cast. While still a young man, Francis saw his color-saturated paintings fetch the highest prices of any living artist. His restless desire resulted in five marriages and homes on three continents; his entrepreneurial spirit led to founding a museum, a publishing company, a reforestation program and several nonprofit organizations. "Light on Fire" captures the art, life, personality, and talent of a man whom the art historian and museum director William C. Agee described as a rare artist participating in the “visionary reconstruction of art history,” defying creative boundaries among the likes of Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, and Willem de Kooning. With settings from World War II San Francisco to postwar Paris, New York, Tokyo, and Los Angeles, Selz crafts an intimate portrait of a man who sought to resolve in art the contradictions he couldn’t resolve in life." A brand new, most handsome example of the first edition of this engaging study additionally SIGNED by author Gabrielle Selz.

Inventory Number: E211024SFLOF

(FRANCIS, SAM). Selz, Peter, Susan Einstein & Jan Butterfield. New York. 1975 (1982).: Harry N. Abrams Incorporated. Second Revised Edition (First Thus). Large Oblong 4to. Cloth in Illustrated Jacket. Artist Monograph. Fine/Fine. 296pp, 82 color and 135 b&w illustrations. With a biography and bibliography. This is the revised edition of the first comprehensive monograph on the late American abstract artist Sam Francis. A brand new, pristine example of the preferred 1982 version that includes a well illustrated thirty-two page supplemental essay on his graphic work not found in the first issue additionally bearing the BOLDLY SIGNED PRESENTATION "For Connie, love + kisses, Sam" to his close friend and author of the catalogue raisonné of his graphic work Connie Lembark in black ink on the half title page. PLEASE NOTE: Additional shipping costs are required for this item beyond our standard rates due to its weight and value - we will inform you of the applicable amount at time of purchase. 0-8109-0928-6 Inventory Number: 019222

(FRANCIS, SAM). Silverman, Manny, Pontus Hulten & Robert Shapazian. Los Angeles: Manny Silverman Gallery, 1987. First Edition. Small 4to. Stapled Illustrated Wrappers. Artist Monograph. Fine.. np (20pp), 8 color and 14 b&w illustrations. With a chronology. This is the slender twenty page catalogue issued in conjunction with the 1987 inaugural exhibition of the Manny Silverman Gallery featuring twenty-two paintings on paper by Sam Francis ostensibly executed between 1959 and 1964 that raised quite a few art world eyebrows due to the highly controversial dating by the artist of these works. A most handsome example. Inventory Number: 021881

(GOODE, JOE AKA BUENO, JOSE). Goode, Joe. Jerry Sohn, Editor. Los Angeles: The Lapis Press, 1990. First Edition 1/38. Folio. Silk Over Boards in Slipcase. Illustrated Book. Fine./No Jacket - As Issued.. np (32pp), 12 color etchings. "Water" is Joe Goode's - credited as Jose Bueno - exquisite 1990 limited edition book from The Lapis Press consisting of twelve color etchings of abstracted water executed by master printer Jacob Samuel on handmade paper at Sam Francis' Litho Shop. The title page and colophon were typeset and printed by hand letterpress by Les Ferriss, with its striking Royal Blue silk binding and grey slipcase by Ulli Rotzscher. A most handsome example of the exceedingly uncommon first and only edition limited to thirty-eight copies NUMBERED (38/38) AND BOLDLY SIGNED "Joe Goode" in pencil on the title page showing just a bit of age-toning to the spine of the book and some light wear to the slipcase. PLEASE NOTE: Additional shipping costs are required for this item beyond our standard rates due to its weight and value - we will inform you of the applicable amount at time of purchase. Inventory Number: 025577

(GOODE, JOE). Goode, Joe. Santa Monica, CA: Jacob Samuel, 1987. First Edition 1/8. 4to. Linen Over Boards, Slipcased. Illustrated Book. Fine/No Jacket - As Issued. np (36pp), 12 white ground aquatints. Designed by Joe Goode and Jacob Samuel. "Storm Trees" is the supremely beautiful first book of the press of Santa Monica-based master printer Jacob Samuel. It is a collaboration with renowned Los Angeles (by way of Oklahoma with Ed Ruscha) artist Joe Goode featuring twelve gorgeous abstract aquatints printed at Sam Francis' Litho Shop on vintage Whitman Fine paper, bound in debossed green linen-over-boards, and housed in a blue linen slipcase. The title page and colophon were typeset and printed using a hand letterpress by Les Ferriss, with the hand-binding by Klaus-Ullrich S. Rotzscher. A brand new, most handsome example of the first product of Edition Jacob Samuel - one of only eight bound copies (with an additional two composed of loose sheets issued as artist's proofs) - BOLDLY NUMBERED (6/8) AND SIGNED "Joe Goode" in blue ink at the rear colophon, as issued, showing some trivial scuffing to its slipcase. PLEASE NOTE: Additional shipping costs are required for this item beyond our standard rates due to its weight and value - we will inform you of the applicable amount at time of purchase. Inventory Number: 024545

(GOODE, JOE). Goode, Joe. Jerry Sohn, Editor. Los Angeles: The Lapis Press, 1993. First Edition 1/25. 4to. Handmade Wrappers in Slipcase. Illustrated Book. Fine./No Jacket - As Issued.. np (20pp), 8 monochrome etchings. Designed by Joe Goode. In a protective clear acetate dustwrapper. "Nature's Revenge" is the beautiful 1993 Joe Goode limited edition book from The Lapis Press consisting of eight gorgeous monochrome Chine-colle´ etchings of abstracted tornados executed by master printer Jacob Samuel on Hiromi paper at Sam Francis' Litho Shop. The title page and colophon were typeset and printed by hand letterpress by Les Ferriss, and the wrappers are bound and sewn in the Japanese style using unprinted handmade Hiromi paper and housed in a like paper-over-boards slipcase by Klaus-Ullrich S. Rotzscher. A brand new, most handsome example of the exceedingly uncommon first and only edition limited to twenty-five copies NUMBERED (22/25) AND BOLDLY SIGNED "Joe Goode" in pencil. PLEASE NOTE: Additional shipping costs are required for this item beyond our standard rates due to its weight and value - we will inform you of the applicable amount at time of purchase. Inventory Number: 024163

(LYOTARD, JEAN-FRANCOIS). Lyotard, Jean Francois. Bruce Boone, Translator. Venice, CA: Lapis Press, 1990. First Edition. 4to. Boards in Clamshell Box. Art Theory Monograph. As New/As New. 64pp, illustrated in b&w. Designed by Robert Shapazian and Patrick Dooley. Originally issued as "Le Mur du Pacifique" by Editions Galilee in 1979, "Pacific Wall" is the first English language edition of renowned French theoretician Jean-Francois Lyotard's anthology of nine essays on "the Western". It is an elaborately designed reinvisioning published in 1990 by Sam Francis' Lapis Press that includes gatefold illustrations of Ed Kienholz' "Five Card Stud" and the downtown Los Angeles freeway system. One of only a handful of presentation copies produced hors commerce for the press and contributors, it consists of the book in its fragile unprinted yellow acetate jacket with printed acetate wraparound title band housed in a crimson linen-over-boards clamshell box with a gilt-debossed spine. A brand new, pristine example additionally bearing the BOLDLY SIGNED PRESENTATION "For King Henry, our own, Love from the editor - Robert Shapazian" and "+ the Publisher Sam Francis" for Henry Hopkins in purple ink on page 60 whose box shows some very light wear and soiling. The late Henry T. Hopkins was a pioneering California-based museum director, art historian and gallerist from whom we acquired this directly prior to his passing. PLEASE NOTE: Additional shipping costs are required for this item beyond our standard rates due to its value - we will inform you of the applicable amount at time of purchase. 0-932499-64-3 Inventory Number: 019521

(RUSCHA, EDWARD). Ruscha, Edward. Los Angeles: The Lapis Press, 1988. First Edition 1/35. Elephant Folio. Full Leather in Slipcase. Artist's Book. Very Good/No Jacket - As Issued. np (28pp), 1 letterpress colophon + title page, 8 color etchings. In a protective clear acetate dustwrapper. "Flipping, Kicking, Howling, Rolling, Sitting, Standing, Climbing, Telling" is the oversized, extraordinarily luxe artist's book published in 1988 by Sam Francis' Lapis Press containing eight original etchings by Edward Ruscha. Each "silhouette" image was pulled by master printer Jacob Samuel at The Litho Shop on a 20 x 16" sheet of Rives BFK paper. The title and colophon pages are printed by hand-letterpress, and along with the etchings, four blank preliminaries, and endpapers have been hand-bound by Klaus Ullrich S. Rotzscher in an exquisite debossed, full dark green smooth calfskin. The book is housed in a stylish matching calf and linen slipcase. An internally most handsome example of the first and only printing (print entries 149-156 in Siri Engberg's "Edward Ruscha: Editions 1959-1999") of this exquisite, exceedingly uncommon volume - only two copies are currently cited in OCLC WorldCat - BOLDLY NUMBERED (35/35) AND SIGNED "Ed Ruscha 1988" in pencil on the rear colophon, as issued, showing some very mild wear to the front and rear boards along with some rubbing and slight discoloration to the leather spine. The slipcase bears some rubbing and abrading to the leather trim at the heel and crown of the opening along with some minor wear to the linen along the seam of the bottom edge. It has been priced accordingly. This is accompanied by a pristine example of the hors commerce 20 x 16" Lapis Press promotional broadside cum print for the book featuring a colored etching by Ruscha of the letter "B" (entry M-59 in Siri Engberg's "Edward Ruscha: Editions 1959-1999") that was issued in an edition of forty numbered but unsigned copies. Inventory Number: 024157

(RUSCHA, EDWARD). Ruscha, Edward. Los Angeles: The Lapis Press, 1988. First Edition 1/35. Elephant Folio. Full Leather in Slipcase. Artist's Book. Fine/No Jacket - As Issued. np (28pp), 1 letterpress colophon + title page, 8 color etchings. In a protective clear acetate dustwrapper. "Flipping, Kicking, Howling, Rolling, Sitting, Standing, Climbing, Telling" is the oversized, extraordinarily luxe artist's book published in 1988 by Sam Francis' Lapis Press containing eight original etchings by Edward Ruscha. Each "silhouette" image was pulled by master printer Jacob Samuel at The Litho Shop on a 20 x 16" sheet of Rives BFK paper. The title and colophon pages are printed by hand-letterpress, and along with the etchings, four blank preliminaries, and endpapers have been hand-bound by Klaus Ullrich S. Rotzscher in an exquisite debossed, full dark green smooth calfskin. The book is housed in a stylish matching calf and linen slipcase. A most handsome example of the first and only printing (print entries 149-156 in Siri Engberg's "Edward Ruscha: Editions 1959-1999") of this exquisite, exceedingly uncommon volume - only two copies are currently cited in OCLC WorldCat - BOLDLY NUMBERED (19/35) AND SIGNED "Ed Ruscha 1988" in pencil on the rear colophon, as issued. This is accompanied by a pristine example of the hors commerce 20 x 16" Lapis Press promotional broadside cum print for the book featuring a colored etching by Ruscha of the letter "B" (entry M-59 in Siri Engberg's "Edward Ruscha: Editions 1959-1999") that was issued in an edition of forty numbered but unsigned copies. Inventory Number: 013966