Artist designed postcards (36 in all, many individually modified or signed) in cardboard box from the Serpentine show of the same name curated by Hans Ulrich Obrist.<BR>

All of the cards - except Lawrence Weiner's - in each set of postcards (each 10.5 x 15cm, 2pp) are altered in some way by the artist concerned.<BR>

The cards consist of Wolfgang Tillmans: 3 postcards, one signed; Douglas Gordon: 3 postcards, all with the artist's bite; Franz West: 3 postcards, one signed; Maria Eichhorn: 3 postcards, all with applied 19p stamp; Hans-Peter Feldmann: 3 postcards with glued b/w xerox images on the back; Christian Boltanski - 3 postcards, one signed; Jef Geys: 3 postcards, one signed; Lawrence Weiner - 3 postcards; Gilbert & George: 3 postcards, all signed ("love from Gilbert & George"); Fabryce Hybert: 3 postcards, one with '34 - 35' written on the front; Christine Hill: 3 postcards, one signed and Carsten Holler - 3 postcards, all signed and dated. <BR>

Additional to the cards is the exhibition catalogue - 15 x 10.5cm, 20pp.<BR>

All fine in slightly scuffed box in somewhat crumpled in part original silver foil envelope. One of 40 numbered copies in pencil on the outer silver foil envelope. Rare.<BR><BR>

Breton apparently wrote this 'lettre pneumatique' in June 1920 (towards the end of the Dadaist period in Paris) and sent it to his lover with the following message:

"Ma cherie, pas encore ce soir,/ pardon. Je sais, je sais, et tu/ m'obliges te donner des motifs/ de mes absences, pourquoi? Je dois/ revoir Eluard qui part ˆ la/ campagne demain, je sors avec/ lui et rentrerai trs tard. La/ semaine prochaine, je compte/ que nous nous entendions mieux/ sur nos heures, ne dis pas/ que je ne fais pas ce que je peux./ Je pense toi, veux-tu m'ecrire/ un petit mot. Je suis aussi/ dans un etat moral singulier;/ ˆ quoi, mon amour, tu ne/ peux rien? Est-ce encore une/ fois pardonne?/ Andre

In translation:

My darling, again not tonight, sorry. I know, I know, and you force me to give you reasons for my absences, why? I must see Eluard again who goes to the countryside tomorrow, I will go out with him and come home very late. Next week, I hope that we will understand better each other about our "timing?", don't say that I don't do what I can. I think of you, can you write me a small note? I also am in a unusual ("singular") moral state, of which, my love, you can't do anything about? Am I once again forgiven? Andre

A lettre pneumatique was a common way of sending urgent notes throughout Paris (using a series of pneumatic tubes between post offices) and the tense tone of the letter suggests a clandestine arrangement having to be changed at short notice. The phasing of the letter also suggests a certain cooling of the relationship - certainly concern about the effect of Breton cancelling (presumably not for a first time) the meeting and the expected chiding from his lover.

The letter reads as if it has been written towards the end of a relationship rather than in the full passion of an early liaison. Men are like that: even famous surrealists. Perhaps, even more, famous surrealists. There is no reference in the literature, that we know of, to any lover of Breton's having the forename "Germaine" and it is tempting to speculate that the Germaine here is Germaine Picabia (nee Everling) who Breton certainly knew very well - Breton being a constant visitor to Picabia's house (the place, for example, where the Dadaists first met Tristan Tzara) and there are several photographs of Breton and the two Picabias at social functions and at Dadaist events.

However this is, just that, speculation and would require much further research to confirm but nonetheless the letter is a mystery awaiting a solution - was Breton cuckolding his friend?

The provenance of the letter is indirectly from Georges Ribemont-Dessaignes who has added various handwritten texts of his own including the "title" Perle Fausse (which translates as 'False Pearl'), the Surname "BRETON" under the "Andre" signed by Breton, as well as "A GERMAINE" and "DADA" at the bottom of the letter in purple and green inks.

It seems likely that these texts were added later as an attempt of explication by GR-D. Alternatively Ribemont-Dessaignes may have been commenting on the content of the letter, its tone of slight deceit or perhaps even a comment about the affair or the participants in the affair.

Verso the letter is in a minorly damaged state with the lettering of the outside of the epistle having been affected by some previous adhesion to another paper (perhaps a scrap book or book of mementos) and the name and address is unreadable, the stamps and franking can be seen but the date is hard to read although the franking does reveal "Paris" and "Juin 6" and the number "20" can also be seen in the franked impressions (which would match Georges Ribemont-Dessaignes' dating verso). The word "urgent" is also handwritten on the folded front of the letter. Perhaps scientific analysis could reveal more - certainly our own manipulations (enlargement and alteration of photographic contrast of an electronic reproduction) suggests that more detail could be revealed on the franking and possibly even the addressee with a little sophisticated work).

All in all a fascinating small letter which may raise more questions than it answers and a scarce early document from Breton's hand at a point where Dada was about to be rejected and surrealism born. One small tear on fold (0.7cm) and some adhesion from another paper verso otherwise very good condition bearing in mind the original mailed aspect of this item.

10 x 21cm, 2pp typographic announcement card for a group show and solo show by Frei. VG+.

25 x 20cm, red, dark blue, light blue, silver and black original digital print with the title text and heart design by Weiner. This is one of 500 examples - each numbered on a separate small sheet (to allow gluing if framed) by Weiner and signed. Additionally there is a information sheet with a short "statement" by Weiner where he says that "I do not subscribe to explaining what my intentions are/rather I prefer to present an existing fact and let the judgement of the receiver rest upon that/especially with the use of language explanatory verbiage is gilding a lily which is not necessary unless the subject is gilt." VG+_. 1

27.5 x 19cm, 86pp plus original wrappers. The reprint of the Marquis de Sade's book exploring incest and the immorality of making one's daughter one's lover. Here Valentine Hugo has provided 8 illustrations hors texte which show the relationship being one of romance rather than exploitation which matches the surrealists' support for the "devine marquis".

This is a service du press copy on velin signed by Hugo on the last page and marked "S.P." in pencil and on the first blank page she has also written an extensive dedication to Guy D'Humeur (?) - Les bonheurs et malheurs d'Eugenie petitte fille modele de la Bibliotheque noire avec l'amitie de Valentine Hugo" and dated 27/1/49.

VG+ example.

31.7 x 30.5cm, full pull sheet of six offset lithographic uncut postcards designed by Sigi Sander with an image of Joseph Beuys and Harald Naegeli embracing and, perhaps, kissing.

Issued as an numbered fundraising edition by Beuys' creation the FIU - the card has a rubber stamp impression on the back (nr 44) from a total edition of 99 and is signed by Beuys and Naegeli on the front in gold and black ink respectively.

Not a particularly well known edition and not in Staeck multiples. VG+.

15 x 21cm, 2pp announcement card with a photograph of a plastic lily on some lingerie but part of the crotch of the panties is overlaid on the petals so as to hide the flower - a very abstract erotic image. Verso gallery details. VG+.

JOINT:

Hand addressed (by Gette) mailing envelope - nearly opened.

29 x 23cm slip case content with  29 x 23cm book, 192pp as loose folios and original covers. First edition of this novel of romantic love challenged by events as illustrated by Hugo with seven original lithographs.

This copy is one of 50 numbered examples on Marais which has an additional suite of Hugo's slightly saccharine illustrations printed b/w on chiffon Johannot aside from the du tete of 8 copies and the total trade edition of 500 numbered copies inclusive of the deluxe examples. Laid in the author's note pointing out that the character of Lydie Demirgian is a fictional invention. Fine example with very slight bump to one edge of slipcase.

10 x 21cm, 2pp announcement card for an exhibition of paintings by Iannone. One work in colour on the front (showing Iannone and Dieter Roth having sex in various ways), verso gallery details. VG+.