Sims Reed Rare Books×

Throwing Three Balls in the Air to get a Straight Line (Best of Thirty-Six Attempts)

Baldessari, John

Milan. Giampaolo Prearo Editore S.r.L. / Galleria Toselli. 1973
John Baldessari's beautiful photographic serial multiple.

From the edition limited to 2,000 copies.

As early as 1972 / 1973, Baldessari had set himself the impossible task of balancing order and chaos with Throwing Four Balls in the Air to Get a Straight Line (Best of 36 Tries) and Throwing Three Balls in the Air to Get an Equilateral Triangle (Best of 36 Tries), continuing in 1974 with Throwing Four Balls in the Air to Get a Square (Best of 36 Tries).
[14 unnumbered leaves]. Oblong folio. (248 x 328 mm). Leaf with titles and small colour vignette, 12 leaves each with colour offset illustration and final leaf with colophon, all recto only on glossy stock with rounded corners. (Sheet size: 244 x 324 mm). Original publisher's blue card envelope with flap, gilt titles to upper cover with the small excised rectangle to show the title vignette.
#48238

Other Items

Brutus Killed Caesar
A very fine copy of John Baldessari's artist book 'Brutus Killed Ceasar'.
£1,250
Baldessari, JohnBrutus Killed Caesar1976
Je Hais le Mouvement Qui Déplace...
A superb copy of the édition de tête of the 'édition originale' of Marcel Broodthaers' anonymous artist book - the first of 3 lettered copies and one of only 13 signed by the artist - inspired by Baudelaire's sonnet 'La Beauté'.
£17,500
Broodthaers, Marcel. Charles BaudelaireJe Hais le Mouvement...1973
A Voyage on the North Sea
A good copy of the English edition of Marcel Broodthaers' legendary artist book.
£550
Broodthaers, MarcelA Voyage on the...1973
having from time to time a...
Weiner's texts in English, and also translated into Dutch by Coosje Kapteyn-van Bruggen.
£200
Weiner, Lawrencehaving from time to...1973
Once upon a time. C'era una...
Weiner's first venture into the use of photography in his artist books, the bilingual 'Once upon a Time / C'era una Volta'.
£95
Weiner, LawrenceOnce upon a time...1973
A Day in the Life of...
A very good copy of Gilbert & George's self-titled 'Third Booklet'.
£450
Gilbert & GeorgeA Day in the...1971
A Day in the Life of...
Gilbert & George's self-titled 'Third Booklet' in the original envelope.
£500
Gilbert & GeorgeA Day in the...1971
Pink Elephants. London Dry
Single Gilbert & George card / artwork from the postal sculpture set of 8 and with the original mailing envelope.
£450
Gilbert & GeorgePink Elephants. London Dry1973
Pink Elephants. London Dry
Single signed Gilbert & George card / artwork from the postal sculpture set of 8 and with the original mailing envelope.
£450
Gilbert & GeorgePink Elephants. London Dry1973
Pink Elephants. Dom Perignon
Single signed Gilbert & George card / artwork from the postal sculpture set of 8 and with the original mailing envelope.
£450
Gilbert & GeorgePink Elephants. Dom Perignon1973