Sims Reed Rare Books×

La Parole est à Péret

Matta, Roberto. Péret, Benjamin

Paris. Editions Surréalistes. 1943
Benjamin Péret's text with an original drawing by Matta.

From the edition limited to 660 copies, with this one of 60 on 'Ticonderoga Text' paper, signed and numbered by Matta in yellow crayon and with an original colour drawing, the 'polyèdre en couleurs' for the 'projet dymaxionnel' by Matta, tipped onto an initial blank; 14 of the 60 copies were numbered in Roman numerals.

This work was intended, in English translation, as the introduction for a collection of 'mythes, légendes et contes populaires d'Amérique' but was felt to be of sufficient importance that it merited a separate issue and in Péret'soriginal French. Published by the Surrealists in exile, the leaf with explanatory text is signed by Breton, Duchamp, Matta, Duits, Ernst and Tanguy, and dedicated to absent Surrealist friends including Brunius, Valentine Penrose, Magritte, Ubac, Lam, Henein, Pierre Mabille, Leonora Carrington and Esteban Frances. The anthology was published eventually in 1960 in Paris and Péret's 'Préface' included additional material written in the 1950s after this edition was published.
[26 leaves; pp. 47]. 8vo. (196 x 130 mm). Half-title with tipped-in monochrome reproduction photograph of Péret and Remedios Varo (his companion) by Ylla as frontispiece verso, leaf with original colour drawing in the shape of a polyhedron by Matta, printed title with publisher's vignette (matching the wrappers) recto, justification and copyright with printer's credit verso, leaf with explanatory text dated 'New York, le 28 mai 1943' recto and 'De benjamin Péret' with list of works verso and Péret's text. Original publisher's faux suede printed wrappers with titles in red and black and publisher's vignette to front cover.
#34994

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