timm ulrichs: permutation – permutationeller computer-text – 1. lieferung 1963/71 [signed and numbered]

ulrichs, timm

Hannover: self-published, 1971. First edition of 150, of which this is no. 83. Large horizontal leporello artists’ book measuring 38 × 31 cm (15 × 12.2 in.), housing a section of adjoined, perforated dot-matrix tractor-feed computer paper measuring 37.5 × 30 cm (14.75 × 12 in.), printed in black at rectos, with the first page bound to thick white card stock covers silkscreened in black. 25 + 1 pp. Text in German. Hand-numbered and signed by the artist in pencil at inside rear covers.

Artists’ book by Timm Ulrichs featuring 17,600 anagrams of the word PERMUTATION generated by a computer software program. Per the introduction, all 39,916,800 possible permutations of the word would have filled 56,700 pages if printed in this format, creating a book 5 m (16.4 ft.) thick. Presented here are 704 permutations on each of 25 perforated, adjoined leaves, which, when unfolded, extend to more than 7 meters (23 ft.). A charming book object that combines computer art, concrete poetry, and the leporello format, first conceived in 1963 but not realized until 1971, after Ulrichs met software programmer Friedemann Singer.

Artifact Vibration Score: 8.9.

Trace amounts of offset rubbing at covers, including a small area of faint brown spotting at upper right corner of front cover and a small area of more pronounced spotting at upper left middle of rear cover, with bumps to corners and age toning. Very good. Item 1262.

Price: $1,250.00