31 results
1540ref. ST20622Germany ca. 1540. 183 x 133 mm. 7 1/8 x 5 1/4". WITH A FULL-PAGE MINIATURE DEPICTING THE HARROWING OF HELL featuring a naked Adam and Eve on the left and on the right Christ bending down to rescue John the Baptist the figures framed by a stone archway supporting a hairy creature who aims the point of a spear directly at Adam and Eve the miniature in a thin brown frame with gilt lines surrounded on two sides by the words "VERBUM DOMINI MANET IN ETERNUM" in gilt all framed in gray and red washes with double rules of black and gilt. Light soiling to frame a little flaking to the gray border and a couple of small scuffs and smudges elsewhere verso with spotting but the miniature vibrant and well preserved with only very trivial imperfections. A close copy of an early 16th century engraving by Albrecht Dürer this powerful miniature depicting the Harrowing of Hell is an intriguing artifact that ties together manuscript art print culture and the Reformation. The image depicts an apocryphal tale in the Gospel of Nicodemus in which Christ following his death but before his Resurrection descends into Limbo in order to save righteous souls who had passed away before him particularly figures from the Old Testament. Christ appears here in pale pink robes carrying a long staff with a cross and banner adorning the top. Having just brought down the gates of Hell he stoops to rescue John the Baptist here dressed in furs from its depths. A naked Adam and Eve covering their loins stand at the left of the composition--Adam now a gray-bearded old man as a reflection of sin and mortality but Eve still as she was at the Expulsion in keeping with the period's inclination to retain the classically idealized youthful feminine form. Above them is a stone arch upon which a dog-like demon perches stealthily aiming a spear directly at the oblivious couple. Another demon snaps its jaws at the feet of Christ and we can see a lick of flames below the broken gate as more captive souls clamor to escape. The painting is skillfully done showing the artist's facility with anatomy proportion and foreshortening. The bodies of Adam and Eve are particularly excellent with lovely skin tones and convincing molding. The composition is clearly based on an engraving by Dürer published in 1513 as part of a major series of 16 images known as the "Engraved Passion." In translating a black & white print into a full-color painting the artist here dispensed with a few details seen in Dürer's work such as the shadowy figure behind Adam and Eve and the stigmata on Christ's hand; however the overall composition deviates little from the original suggesting that the artist may have been working from an actual engraving. Although this leaf contains just a few words in the form of a border inscription--"Verbum Domini manet eternum" "the Word of the Lord endures forever"--they are monumentally important. This line from Isaiah 40:8 and 1 Peter 1:25 became the motto of the Lutheran Reformation appearing on art clothing coins and even armor of the 16th century. The Schmalkaldic League an influential group of allied Lutheran principalities in the Holy Roman Empire at the time also adopted it as their motto. Given the dominance of print materials during the Reformation period our hand-painted miniature--possibly produced as a frontispiece--must have been a very special commission. It is also an object that is prime for further study touching on aspects of book production religious art and the transmission of images and ideas in the early modern period. unknown books
1998ref. 163193New York: CUZ Editions 1998. First Edition. First Edition. INSCRIBED by the author to fellow author Chris Offutt on the title page in 2000: "Very Best / to Chris / from Richard / 2/3/00." From the collection of Chris Offutt. Offutt is the author of "Kentucky Straight" and other short story collections novels nonfiction and memoirs. In 1996 he was named one of the twenty Best Young American Novelists by "Granta" magazine. He has also written for popular television shows and national publications has been visiting faculty at numerous institutions including the Iowa Writer's Workshop and has received awards from the Guggenheim Foundation the National Endowment for the Arts and others. Fine and unread in wrappers. CUZ Editions unknown books
ref. 170808005New York: Dot Books 1973. First Edition. Paperback. First edition. Signed by Richard Hell on fake author bio at front: "March 15 1996 For Marlene to improve her library heh heh xxx Theresa Stern Richard." 32pp. with one page publisher list at rear. Illustrated black stiff wraps. An unread copy Fine with the faintest edge-rubbing to wraps. Musician and writer Richard Meyers AKA Hell's first book co-written with his Neon Boys and Television bandmate Tom Miller AKA Verlaine under a pseudonym. Proto-punk poetry from the New York streets rare signed. Dot Books paperback books
ref. 32701NY: Dot Books 1973. Paperback. Very good. Paperback. First Edition. 32pp. Head of spine rubbed with some light edgewear else very good in publisher's wraps. Inscribed and signed by Hell on the front free endpaper thus: For--/Soul Bro Bob/From/Theresa Stern/&/ Richard/ Meyers/ Hell/ 10/1/82. Dot Books paperback books
ref. 554791New York: Genesis : Grasp Press 1971. Softcover. Fine. First edition. Oblong 24mo. Light blue stapled wrappers. Fine. With the original Genesis : Grasp mailing envelope addressed to poet Clark Coolidge. Also included is a Typed Letter Signed from Richard Meyers a.k.a. Richard Hell to Coolidge dated December 28 1970 mimicing the cover illustrations. The letter informs Coolidge that the press has accepted four of his poems we assume for inclusion in Genesis : Grasp 4 and presents this copy of Uh which is to be the subscriber supplement #5: "I thought you might like it. It's going to be lying around here in packages deteriorating for the two months or so it will take us to raise money and print the issue." The first book by the influential musician and writer Richard Hell published under the pseudonym Ernie Stomach. An artist's flip-book that utilized an alphabet specially created by Hell and published in an edition of 500 copies with 470 trade copies and with 30 numbered and signed by the author. A mystifyingly uncommon book which despite the stated limitation is the only copy we've seen. Genesis : Grasp Press unknown books
1966ref. 162491N.p.: Times Films 1966. Three vintage studio still photographs from the US release of the 1965 French film. With provenance stamps on the verso of each one with three labels obscuring its provenance stamps. Valeria Ciangottini stars as a 19-year-old Parisian girl who after a messy love affair openly decides to become a prostitute and signs a contract with a ruthless pimp. When her first client an old man who owns a marketing agency dies in her arms and a young handsome company executive comes to investigate the death it's love at first sight. 8 x 10 inches. Two Near Fine one Very Good plus with faint creasing and a wax pencil annotation to the bottom margin. Times Films unknown books
2008ref. 135149Bona Editio 2008. First edition. Oblong hardcover. Text in English and German. Includes numerous color and black and white illustrations. A near fine copy in illustrated boards. No dust jacket as issued. Scarce with no copies listed in OCLC. Bona Editio unknown books
1994ref. 45299New York: Poetry Project 1994. Very Good. New York: Poetry Project 1994. First Edition. Octavo 23cm; publisher's white pictorial card wrappers by Shen Chen; 127pp. Light soil to textblock margins else Very Good to Near Fine. Poetry Project unknown books
2007ref. 13531New York: CUZ Editions 2007. First Edition Thus. Original Wraps. Near Fine in Wraps. First Edition Thus. Original Wraps. The first compiled edition consists of 250 copies 50 of which were numbered and signed by author. This copy un-numbered but includes the inscription on title page. 'or "Sailing with Hermes" for Joshua Richard Hell NYC 2007'. A handsome copy. Discrete tiny crease in bottom front wrapper minor shelf/edge wear else tight bright and unmarred.Glossy white staplebound warps gold lettering np. 8.5x11. Inscribed and dated by the author. CUZ Editions unknown books
1969ref. 152122N.p.: N.p. 1969. Vintage reference photograph from the 1969 Swedish television film showing actor Anders Ek in a menacing demonic mask. With a printed mimeo snipe specific to the film's UK release affixed to the verso. From the archive of film historian and author Joel Finler. A theatrical troupe is called before the Swedish courts due to their obscene performance material and personal lives leading each troupe member to crack under psychological strain. The film originally aired on September 18 1969 on Sveriges Radio. 8.5 x 6.5 inches. Near Fine. N.p. unknown books
1988ref. 106150Munich and Cambridge: Bayerische Staatsbibliothek and Houghton Library 1988. stiff paper wrappers. Music. square small 4to. stiff paper wrappers. 138 pages. Alban Berg and The Second Viennese School Musians in American Exile. Illustrated exhibition catalogue. Bayerische Staatsbibliothek and Houghton Library unknown books
1988ref. 35308München; Cambridge: Bayerische Staatsbibliothek; Houghton Library Harvard University 1988. Paperback. Quarto. Wrappers. 138 pp. In English and German. Catalog of a joint exhibition of the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek and the Houghton Library issued by the Bavaria-Harvard Committee for 20th Century Music History. Bayerische Staatsbibliothek; Houghton Library, Harvard University paperback books
1982ref. 167880Los Angeles: New Line Cinema 1982. Three vintage studio still photographs from the 1982 film. A teenage runaway travels from New Jersey to New York in order to become famous in the punk subculture only to discover the punk scene long since faded and relocated to Los Angeles. Susan Seidelman would go on to direct "Desperately Seeking Susan" with some considering "Smithereens" a stylistic precursor to that film. The first American independent film to be invited to compete for the Palme d'Or at Cannes. 10 x 8 inches. Lightly toned else Near Fine. New Line Cinema unknown books
2005ref. 23435Milwaukee WI: Repair 2005. First edition. Signed by Richard Hell. One of 500 copies bound in wrappers. Very fine copy. 8vo original wrappers. Very fine copy. Repair unknown books
2005ref. 23434Milwaukee WI: Repair 2005. First edition. One of 16 hardbound copies hors commerce signed by the authors; this being copy number 13. The entire edition consisted of 42 hardbound copies and 500 copies in wrappers. Very fine copy. 8vo original red cloth dust jacket. Very fine copy. Repair unknown books
2013ref. 12046New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art 2013. First Edition/No DJ as issued. Hardcover. Near Fine. First Edition/No DJ as issued. Hardcover. From the Collection of Jenny Lens. Catalog for the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute's exhibition on punk fashion featuring essays on punk performers Richard Hell and John Lydon richly illustrated. Light shelfwear else tight bright and unmarred. Black paper over boards. Black pictorial endpapers. 4to 240pp b/w color illus. Matte paper. Metropolitan Museum of Art hardcover books
1976ref. 90224New York: Punk Publications Inc 1976. First Edition. Slim quarto 27.5cm; original pictorial newsprint wrappers; 22pp; illus. Light wear to extremities a few faint creases with a touch of dust-soil and one faint stain to rear wrapper; Near Fine. Early issue of John Holmstrom's groundbreaking punk fanzine with the entirety of the issue dedicated to Richard Hell's film treatment "The Legend of Nick Detroit". 90224. Punk Publications, Inc unknown books
1470ref. ST17764Delft ca. 1470. Leaf: 175 x 122 mm. 6 7/8 x 4 3/4"; Frame: 250 x 195 mm. 9 3/4 x 7 3/4". No text on recto or verso. In an attractive wooden frame. A FINELY PAINTED MINIATURE OF THE HARROWING OF HELL within an arch-topped compartment the mouth of hell depicted on the left with a fiery red interior and five people emerging from it the figure of Christ on the left holding a cross on a long staff and half-clothed in a pink and blue robe the background with a castle in the distance ALL OF THIS BENEATH A VERY DETAILED ARCHITECTURAL CANOPY suspended in the sky AND THE WHOLE WITHIN A FULL BORDER of acanthus leaves and other foliage and flowers in reds blues greens yellows and brushed gold along with very many small burnished gold ivy leaves and buds on hairline stems a small stork in the bottom border and a large delicately shaded angel in the left border. ◆Left margin trimmed very close to decoration just escaping loss and the other three margins ample mild darkening right at fore and tail edge but not reaching into borders otherwise IN FINE CONDITION the colors rich and true and the burnished gold still shimmering. This extraordinary miniature notable for its uncommon subject matter memorable imagery and fine workmanship was produced by a talented artist belonging to the stylistic group known as the Masters of the Delft Half-Length Figures. The subject here is infrequently depicted in Books of Hours: the Harrowing of Hell appears as a full-page miniature in only three of the 119 prayer books described by Roger Wieck in his "Time Sanctified" and three others contain a Harrowing depiction inside an initial. Christian theological tradition tells us that after his crucifixion Christ went to liberate souls from Limbo--a location inhabited by those barred from entry into Heaven because they died before the Redemption. In our scene Christ wrapped in a regal cloak and carrying a long staff his hands and feet still bleeding from the wounds he received on the Cross reaches into an absolutely wonderful Hellmouth to extricate Adam and Eve and other naked souls while the recently deceased and original saint John the Baptist still clad in an animal skin garment waits patiently for his turn to emerge. The great maw of Hell as depicted here has bulging eyes a distended snout thickly matted hair and a bad complexion; his gaping mouth punctuated by sharp gray teeth glows red hot and one can tell from the creature's expression that he is loath to comply with this rescue of souls. In addition to its compelling subject matter there is a high level of artistic achievement here including delicately molded figures impressively detailed architectural elements and a lovely color palette. The elegance and quiet sophistication observed in this miniature distinguishes the artist responsible for this work as a particularly talented member of his circle. Active from about 1450-80 the Masters of the Delft Half-Length Figures were named by James Marrow after the angels and other figures whose upper bodies are typically found emerging from a cloud within the borders. Although the present leaf uncharacteristically contains a full-length angel in the border it shares other stylistic similarities such as the elaborate architectural canopy hovering over the main composition; and it particularly resembles the work of the artist of Keble College MS 77 an illuminator described in "The Golden Age of Dutch Manuscript Illumination" as "one of the more articulate of the group" whose "figures are more fully modelled and his palette . . . deeper and brighter" than that of his contemporaries. Because the subject of the present miniature goes beyond the standard image program seen in routine productions and because of the high level of artistic accomplishment seen here this leaf was almost certainly part of an elaborate Book of Hours produced in response to an important commission. unknown books
1952ref. 238186New York 1952. pamphlet. Very scarce signed Playbill featuring "The First Drama Quartette" a loose ensemble of friends consisting of Charles Laughton Charles Boyer Cedric Hardwicke and Agnes Moorehead appearing in the 1952 Broadway production of Bernard Shaw's "Don Juan in Hell" at the Plymouth Theatre. Signing on the cover next to a fantastic photo are Laughton Boyer and Hardwicke. Moorehead's autograph is absent. Near fine condition. unknown books
1978ref. 151059New York: CBGB's 1978. Vintage CBGB'S 2nd Avenue Theater four-page program Grand Opening Concert Bill the only concert bill printed for the short-lived club for late December 1978 announcing its Tuesday night opening with Talking Heads and Tuff Darts on December 27 The Dictators and Dead Boys on December 28 and Richard Hell and the Voidoids with Patti Smith December 29-31. These acts would be the theater's last perfomances. Included in the program are bios for headlining acts Talking Heads Dead Boys and Richard Hell and the Voidoids as well as listing of CBGB'S Bowery schedule for December 27th through December 31st. CBGB'S owner Hilly Kristal opened CBGB'S 2nd Avenue Theater in late 1977 in the old Anderson Theatre at 66 2nd Avenue. The venue was designed to accommodate the growing crowds bands like Talking Heads the Patti Smith Group and Richard Hell and the Voidoids were attracting to the small Bowery club. With a capacity of just over 1700 seats massive compared to the 350-person capacity of CBGB'S it opened on Tuesday December 27th with Talking Heads headlining and Tuff Darts as the opener. Due to the decrepit state of the theater the cost of bringing the theater up to code even with backing from the likes of Sire records president Seymour Stein were too great. Kristal nearly went bankrupt trying to make a go of it ultimately closing the theater in early 1979. The last performance at the venue was New Year's Eve 1978 featuring The Patti Smith Group Richard Hell and the Voidoids the Erasers and Mars. 5.5 x 8 inches Two page bi-Fold. Near Fine. CBGB's unknown books
1978ref. 370971New York: New York Rocker 1978. Softcover. Very Good. Magazine. Folio. 56pp. Newsprint wrappers. Very good with toning and a small tears at the extremities. A New York-based tabloid magazine founded by former zine publisher Alan Betrock and published for a total of 55 issues before it was canceled in late 1982. This issue features an article about Television Richard Hell and Tom Verlaine breaking up the murder of Nancy Spungen and arrest of Sid Vicious and articles on The Romantics Dave Edmunds The Fleshtones Regina Richards and others. New York Rocker unknown books
1977ref. 386338San Francisco: Sun King 1977. Softcover. Near Fine/Near Fine. Magazine. Folio. 47pp. Newsprint wrappers. Near fine with some light toning and wear. A first wave punk zine that includes the Lester Bangs article "The Roots of Punk"; Richard Meltzer's column Bebop on Your Mama; a Patti Smith penned piece on Robert Bresson; a full-page comic by Spain Rodriguez; articles on The Nuns The Dils The Avengers Richard Hell and Cheap Trick along with heap of coverage of the San Francisco music scene. Sun King unknown books
1995ref. 198367Paris: Foundation Cartier pour l'art Contemporain 1995. First edition. Hardcover. Exhibition catalog for a show that ran September 28 through December 10 1995. Features text in English and French with contributions by Jean-Michel Ribettes Heinrich Hell and Roland Barthes. Includes numerous color and black and white illustrations. A near fine copy in illustrated boards with some slight wear to the bottom edge No dust jacket as issued. Foundation Cartier pour l'art Contemporain unknown books
ref. 201814Tubingen: Ernst Wasmuth. hardcover. very good/very good. Many Photo. Illus. by the author. 4to gray cloth lightly rubbed d.w. Tubingen: Ernst Wasmuth n.d. circa 1970. vg Photography of mostly historic sites. Text in German. Ernst Wasmuth unknown books
1996ref. 62572New York: Scribner 1996. First Edition. First Printing. Octavo 22cm; cream paper-covered boards and black cloth backstrip with titles stamped in silver on spine; dustjacket; 67-1751pp. Signed by the author on the title page. Light wear to extremities faint vertical fold smoothed out on p.29-30 with a few tiny stains to endpapers; Near Fine. Dustjacket is price-clipped lightly edgeworn with a stain at mid-spine; Very Good. The former punk musician's first novel. Scribner unknown books
