Notes in Hand. ORIGINAL PUBLISHER'S MAQUETTE.

1972. ORIGINAL PUBLISHER'S MAQUETTE OLDENBURG, Claes. Notes in Hand. 50 archival folders (numbered 1-50), one for each image in the published work (London: Petersburg Press, 1972), consisting of developmental collages, working drafts with annotations, paste-ups, corrections and some drawings in the hand of Claes Oldenburg, accompanied by related imagery and texts for covers, miscellaneous documents, working documents and drafts for two rejected images (nos. "45" and "48") which apparently remain unpublished. Sizes vary: folders measure 405 x 320 mm., and are preserved in two black cloth protective boxes. N.p.: [1969-1970]. Original maquette for Notes in Hand, Oldenburg's best-known book and one of the primary examples of Pop Art in book form. The present archive remains the ONLY record of the creation of the book itself. There are as many as ten proposed variations for each page in the published version, with numerous additions, changes and emendations, both in drawing and text, in Oldenburg's hand. This ensemble of proofs follows Oldenburg's thought process along the stages of production. This archive was collected and preserved by the Petersburg Press, the publishers of Notes in Hand. The original drawings are in the collection of Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen, with the exception of no. 12, which is in the collection of Joseph Kosuth and Cornelia Lauf, and no. 50, which is unlocated. In the preface to Notes in Hand, Oldenburg describes how he created an entirely new work in the published volume, differing significantly from the drawings. Photostats were made from black-and-white prints of the original drawings, then the artist applied new colours, different from the originals. He identified the new colours by reference to a colour chart -- this information was mailed to London to be translated and passed on to the printers in Stuttgart by Hansjorg Mayer. "It pleased me to give instructions in numbers and words and have them come back as colours." The present archive must be seen to be fully appreciated. In fine condition. An exceptional primary document of the Pop Art movement. PROVENANCE: Paul Cornwall-Jones, publisher of Petersburg Press. Axsom and Platzker, Oldenburg: Printed Stuff, pp. 168-196.