First Papers of Surrealism.

1942. DUCHAMP, Marcel. First Papers of Surrealism. Foreword by Sidney Janis. 52 pp. Illustrated profusely with monochrome photographs, drawings and reproductions of paintings. Small 4to., 270 x 185 mm, bound in original publisher's illustrated and stapled wrappers. Preserved in a green cloth folding box. New York: Coordinating Council of French Relief Societies, Inc., 1942. First Edition. Both covers with original designs by Duchamp. The exhibition was held in October/November of 1942 at the Coordinating Council of French Relief Societies and was organized by André Breton. Duchamp created a front cover with perforated bullet-holes comprised of a close-up of the wall of Kurt Seligmann's barn at Sugar Loaf, New York. The bullet holes in the barn and the front cover are by the hand of Duchamp, who originally had fired five shots with a rifle into the side of Seligmann's barn. The rear cover is a zoomed-in photograph of Gruyere cheese with the title of the exhibition superimposed. One of the more amusing aspects of the catalogue are the series of imaginary portraits selected by Duchamp and Breton. There are numerous portrait photographs of the principal exhibitors throughout the exhibition catalogue, but the selected photographs bear no relationship to the named artists whose portraits they are supposed to represent. These imaginary portraits were chosen at random by Duchamp and Breton. Also included is Duchamp's "compensation portrait" of himself. Photomechanical signatures of Breton and Duchamp on title-page. A superb copy, rare thus. Schwarz, The Complete Work of Marcel Duchamp No. 487.