JOHN BALDESSARI CATALOGUE RAISONNÉ - COMPLETE SIX VOLUME SET - SIGNED & INSCRIBED TO MARGO LEAVIN plus THREE SIGNED AND NUMBERED LABELS for his rare print SMOKE, TREE, SHADOW, and PERSON". From the collection of MARGO LEAVIN of MARGO LEAVIN GALLERY. Margo Leavin represented Baldessari from 1984 to 2013. SIGNATURES and INSCRIPTIONS are as follows:

Volume One: HAND SIGNED "BALDESSARI" in black on the half title page, and signed by Robert Dean, the book's editor, in blue by his name on the title page.

Also, laid into VOLUME ONE are THREE ORIGINAL SIGNED AND NUMBERED COLOPHON/LIMITATION LABELS for JOHN BALDESSARI'S PRINT "SMOKE, TREE, SHADOW, AND PERSON". Only 50 prints were made. A numbered and signed label was meant to be attached to the blank backside of each of the 50 prints, and those copies that have sold at auction all have such a label. The labels measure 2x3 inches and were meant to be peeled from their backing for attachment to the print. THESE THREE ORIGINAL LABELS are numbered: 23/50, 24/50 and 25/50, and each is HAND SIGNED by BALDESSARI. Why Margo Leavin had these labels is uncertain, but perhaps she had some Baldessari "Smoke" prints at her gallery which were never sold and so these labels were never attached. The print "Smoke, Tree, Shadow, and Person" with an attached signed and numbered label has become highly sought after and very expensive (search various auction records).

Volume Two: SIGNED "BALDESSARI XO" in black on the half title page.

Volume Three: Signed and Inscribed: "For Margo From / John XO" in red on the half title page.

Volume Four: Signed and Inscribed: "For Margo From John" in black on the half title page.

Volume Five and Six are not signed. Volume Six was published after Baldessari's death, and Volume Five was published less than a year before his death. It is unlikely that any copies of Volume Five are signed.

The six volumes of the John Baldessari Catalogue Raisonné were published by YALE UNIVERSITY PRESS, New Haven, Connecticut, in association with Marian Goodman Gallery, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2021. The volumes were edited by Patrick Pardo and Robert Dean.

Large Hardcover Books in Slipcases, 10x11.5 inches. Each volume has hundreds of pages and hundreds of color (and a few b&w) illustrations. An incredible, comprehensive work.

Condition: Vol. One: NF/NF, Vol. Two: NF/NF, minor pushing at the spine ends and one edge of the slipcase, Vol. Three: NF/G, the slipcase is split/cracked at the top edges but is holding well, Vol. Four: NF/NF, Vol. Five: VG/VG, the bottom of the book's spine is bumped and there is a bit of rubbing to the slipcase, Vol. Six: NF/NF. Overall a solid, tight, bright and clean set of these six volumes.

SCARCE and WONDERFUL association of JOHN BALDESSARI and MARGO LEAVIN.

About MARGO LEAVIN and the MARGO LEAVIN GALLERY (from Wikipedia):

******Margo Leavin, b.1936 d.2021, was an American art dealer. She was born in New York, but spent her career in Los Angeles. In 1970, she opened the Margo Leavin Gallery in West Hollywood, which she operated until it closed in 2013. Leavin was known for her wit, her relationships with her artists, and business savvy.

JOHN BALDESSARI was represented by the Margo Leavin Gallery from 1984 to 2013.******

PLEASE NOTE:

This set of books is VERY HEAVY and will require additional shipping charges. After placing your order you will be notified of the charges and be able to accept or reject them before payment is taken. Thanks!