Passage
London: Weproductions, 1972. First edition. 8vo paperback in printed wraps with a ‘50p’ stamp on the back cover. Unpaginated. To which is added a yellow addressed and mailed 6.5 x 9.5" clasp envelope alongside a handwritten letter by the artist in black ink on light blue stationery.
One of Telfer’s earlier and more delirious artists’ books published by his own imprint featuring over 100 photographs of worn moccasins, walls getting torn down to the studs, kitchen sinks filling with water, slices of bread with jam getting eaten, paint rollers, salt shakers next to melting candles, envelopes with words printed on top of them, and horse races. A somewhat crude yet elegant artists’ book with a distinctly British narrative.
This copy was mailed alongside a handwritten letter by Stokes to bookseller Laurence McGilvery in June of 1972:
“Dear Laurence McGilvery,
I have recently arrived in L.A. from London. Ed Ruscha advised me to send you a copy of ‘Passage’. I am trying to find some kind of distribution for the book in the U.S.
Best wishes,
Telfer Stokes”
A great association and connection to the overall history and evolution of the photographic artists’ book.
Light rubbing to covers, else fine. Handwritten letter is very good with a strong horizontal folding crease down the middle. Yellow clasp envelope is good only as it's been torn open along the clasp seam and shows signs of wear from being mailed. Item #65
Out of stock