One of my favorite Ruscha artist book designs.

Designed by Ed Ruscha for his good friend Billy Al Bengston’s 1968 retrospective at LACMA. The book features a sandpaper cover with flocked lettering and is bound with screws and hexnuts alongside a pink satin ribbon used as a bookmark.

Notably, the installation for the show was designed by the late Frank Gehry.

An extraordinary artist book. Rare. Only 2500 copies were produced.

This copy shows a crease to the upper-right corner and faint evidence of a flattened crease along the front cover. The satin pink ribbon also shows some creasing. Otherwise, displays very nicely. Priced generously, based on wear.