THIS IS NOT A BOOK
Antwerpen: Mercator Fond, 1971. First edition of 1,000, signed and numbered by the artist, of which this is no. 185. Two-piece square white plexiglass box measuring 31.5 × 31.5 × 4 cm (12.4 × 12.4 × 1.6 in.), with small windows at front and rear. Housing three clear vinyl sheets, two of which are silkscreened in black, and several unbound card stock plates measuring 30 × 30 cm (11.8 × 11.8 in.), silkscreened in black, with various items mounted at center, including a sheet in Braille, a computer-generated BASIC source code printout, a booklet, a small vinyl record housed in a sleeve, a three-dimensional, folded, eight-panel, die-cut paper object, a clear plastic bag with die-cut card stock plates meant to be assembled, and a large folded poster. To which is added a small, folded four-panel poster and a flyer, both printed in black at rectos, and a second computer-generated printout with the book title added by hand at top margin.
Artists’ book object by Mark Verstockt, exploring an alternative to the Gutenberg book. Complete in three chapters, inviting visual, tactile, and auditory participation by the reader. Includes an introduction by Frank Popper. Accompanying materials promote the book itself as well as Verstockt’s 1971 exhibition devoted to the book.
Artifact Vibration Score: 8.5.
Plexiglass case with two small chips at opposing corners and partial yellowing at front cover left margin. Very good. Contents with light bumps to corners, handling creases to one sheet, and the pocket holding the booklet now detached from card stock plate. Else near fine. Accompanying materials with handling creases and trace amounts of age toning. Very good. Item 1272.
Price: $500.00