Empire of the Goat (One of 33 Copies, Signed)

[New York: Self-published], 1985. Minor scuffing to plain stab-bound wrappers; near fine, with remarkably crisp interior. Scarce, with no OCLC records located.. Limited Edition. Quarto. SIGNED and dated by Wool in pencil to bottom of title page; hand-numbered as no. 17 of 33 copies. Christopher Wool's second artist's book—and arguably his first foray into experimental exhibition design—featuring 77 direct photocopies of his early, pre-stencil paintings, which Jeff Perrone aptly described as communicating "a chemical peel, a deep etching, some microscopic pitting that could also be read as cosmic, astronomical." The red goat hand-stamped to the front (truncated) cover—which also appears within the corners of each image, in various states of decay—is purported to have been crafted as Wool's personal symbol at the time. (Inventory #: 31136)