Brancusi

New York: Brummer Gallery, 1926. VG with a few small spots or stains at the very top of a few pages, one or two spots of uneven age-toning otherwise a solid and fresh copy. Tri-fold with printing on all 6 panels The booklet measures 6 5/8 " wide and 8" tall. A very early exhibition leaflet on this sculptor. Introductory essay by Paul Morand. Lists 37 sculptures and 5 bases, 1 painting and 27 studies. A scarce catalogue printed in small quantity. On the occasion of Brancusi 's fourth solo exhibition in New York at the Brummer art gallery, Joseph Brummer had these works works transported by Marcel Duchamp from Le Havre. They were stopped by American customs who declared that they were not works of art and imposed a tax of 40 % of the value of the items. In October 1927 a trial opened in New York between the sculptor and the American Customs Bureau. For the Brummer and Brancusi, it was a matter of proving that his sculpture entitled "Bird in Space", which had just been heavily taxed on importation as a utilitarian object, was indeed a work of art and, as such, exempt from customs duties. Rare catalog of the this exhibition in a small tri-fold publication. There is also a larger, photographically illustrated version with 32 bw images.