Poems by O'Hara, Frank - 1988

(NY): Limited Editions Club, 1988. de Kooning, Willem. Elephant folio. (70)pp. One of 550 copies, with an authorized facsimile of the artist's signature. Illustrated with seventeen lithographs by Willem de Kooning. After Frank O'Hara's untimely death in 1966, a volume of his poetry was published with illustrations from over thirty artists. O'Hara's poem, "Ode to Willem de Kooning," which was inspired by the artist, was included in that volume. De Kooning illustrated it with three drawings, which were chosen from the eighteen that he had submitted. Although these other drawings were occasionally exhibited with the book, they had not been published. Seventeen of these drawings were transferred directly to plates to illustrate this edition, making this the first appearance of these plates. Originally drawn in charcoal, the plates reflect de Kooning's style of quickly drawing, sometimes with his eyes closed, and then smudging the lines to capture the desired effect. Bound in full black morocco, with simple gilt titling to the front cover. Very fine in publisher's dropback box, which is lightly sunned at spine.