Vasarely (Plastic Arts of the 20^th C) – Joray / HB+DJ VG- / op art abstract modern color illusion geometry geometric

Vasarely (Plastic Arts of the 20^th Century Series) : 

Publisher:  Editions du Griffon, Neuchatel Switzerland (Am. distributor Wittenborn & Co.), 1965, 1st ed., hardcover with dustjacket, 195 pages, 197 color and b&w illustrations, no ISBN.

Author:  Victor Vasarely.  Introduction by Marcel Joray.  Translated by Haakon Chevalier.

Condition:  Very good minus.  Pages good to very good, with minor age toning at edges, stamp and ink signature of previous owner and penciled price by previous seller at top ffep.  Page 3/4 is detached from binding but in very good condition otherwise (see photos).  Last signature (pp. 187-195) is partly detached from the glued binding with 1 page fully detached (p. 193/4).  All other pages firmly attached and very good—clean and unmarked.  This copy includes the complete laid-in section of 5 transparencies and their associated 5 loose sheets (pp. 75-98) in a gray folder (see note below).  Page block is square.  Spine still solid (see note below).  Covers show fading at edges of cloth covering with a light bump on the lower spine—covers otherwise very good.  Dustjacket very good, with lightly age-toned edges, soil on back face, and light wear on corners and edges; protected under mylar cover.  Despite spine detachments, this is an excellent copy with all pages present.

Note:  Designed by Vasarely to optimize his artwork, this innovative (for its time) book includes foil papers, transparent and translucent pages, fold-outs, serigraphy, and loose leaves intended to be stacked and removed for optical effects by the reader.  The varied materials and signatures were attached to a glued binding that has loosened its grip on some pages with age, resulting in the detachment issues noted above.  Regarding the folder of transparencies and papers:  Although all of the sheets contained in the folder were intended as loose leaves, it is unclear whether the folder itself was originally attached to the binding or intended as an insert; the folder itself has no glue residue on its edge, so it appears to be laid-in.  The binding shows a gap in the spine where the folder belongs in the book’s pagination (pp. 76-98).

Shipping:  USPS media mail.  Careful packing and prompt shipping.  Contact me for combined shipping cost if purchasing multiple listings. 

Keywords:  art modern optical op art abstract abstraction color geometry non-objective illusion perception visionary