The Letter: Swept Away, The Messenger, Spellbound, The Fan [Complete Suite of 4 Signed and Numbered Lithographs]

New York: Eleanor Ettinger Inc, 1988. Limited Edition. Loose_leaf. Very good. Limited Edition. Loose_leaf. 27.5" X 22.0" each. This suite of four lithographs includes Swept Away, The Messenger, Spellbound, and The Fan. All four lithographs are signed by George Stavrinos in graphite and hand-numbered A/P 25 of 25 to the lower margins, with blind stamp of Eleanor Ettinger Inc. dated 1988. Each lithograph features 3-5 colors and was pulled at Atelier Ettinger in 1988. These suites were limited to 275 numbered impressions and 25 artist's proofs on papier d'Arches; this suite is one of the 25 artist's proofs. Though lacking the portfolio container the 275 numbered impressions were issued with, this artist's proof suite is accompanied by the original advertising publication from the Eleanor Ettinger Gallery in New York City. The four lithographs and gallery publication have all been rolled and are thus curved; only minor wear to edges and extremities. Old seller's label to inside of gallery publication and small creases to front wrap. This suite and accompanying gallery publication will ship in a shipping tube.

George Stavrinos (1948-1990) was an American graphic artist and illustrator who rose to prominence for his fashion illustrations for retailers and publications like Barney's, Bergdorf Goodman, GQ, The New York Times, Gentleman's Quarterly, and Cosmopolitan. His work was also commissioned for the New York City Opera. He was inducted posthumously into the Society of Illustrators Hall of Fame in 2007. Stavrinos was a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, selected for the school's European Honors Program, and he worked after graduation for the internationally renowned design firm Push Pin Studios. His work was concurrently exhibited in galleries in Manhattan, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, London, Tokyo, Paris, and Providence. He taught at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York and at Tokyo's Designers Gakium College. Stavrinos' illustrations also featured in several 1970s and 1980s queer publications such as Gay Source: A Catalog for Men, Blueboy, and Christopher Street, and he created the cover artwork for the first edition of Paul Monette's first novel, Taking Care of Mrs. Carroll. Stavrinos died at only 42 of AIDS-related illness.