LARRY RIVERS & FRANK O'HARA BOOKS / AUTOGRAPHS

Lot of three books, two Larry Rivers, one Frank O'Hara. 1) A very rare book with a note in Rivers' hand above an image of a close friend, poet Frank O'Hara in the book "LARRY RIVERS". Importance of the Book, it was from his personal collection sent to Professor Plumley for making prints of Norman Mailer, John Ashbery, and Amiri Baraka: The book has been considerably used for Rivers' own purposes, a few pages sliced out with a sharp instrument, then tipped back in (two still free-floating). Of significance is page 335, which has been sliced out and taped back in. The page is from a drawing (SELF PORTRAIT) of Rivers: sketching Frank O'Hara, poet, 1926-1966, and Susan Sins, posed, possibly from their days at the University of Michigan in the early fifties, or from memory, in 1967, when it is dated, one year after O'Hara's death (difficult to determine, as some drawings were dated later for inclusion in the book). Rivers began sketching Frank in 1952 and continued until O'Hara's death, the result of being hit by a motorist on Long Island in 1966; Rivers delivered the eulogy, referring constantly to Frank as his best friend, which he was. Rivers continued celebrating that friendship, in drawings from memory, for years after O'Hara died. At the top of the page, Rivers has written with a bold black marker: "All of us together! Happy Birthday Frank", then signed. It could be removed and framed, a unique association piece.

The book is 10" x 12", the image slightly smaller. Published by Sam Hunter, Paris: Editions Cercle D'Art, 1990. 2) Drawings and Digressions by Larry Rivers with Carol Brightman. Some autographs to be found in the book include Norman Mailer, p 240 and Amiri Baraka, p 94. Also sold with the book "Homage to Frank O'Hara", (California: Big Sky, 1977) and includes "messages long and short as editors Bill Berkson and Joe LeSueur call them, pieces from over 40 artists and writers who knew him, as well as drawings and photographs of him, 224 pages. About the Artist: Larry Rivers (1923-2002), the artist of the Baraka broadside was a prominent member of the "Manhattan School", the forerunner of Modern Pop Art. Since his death in 2000, his work is highly sought Major museums throughout the world have examples of his work, two in NYC.

Auction Notepad