100 this-way-brouwn-problems for computer I. B. M. 360 model 95

[104] leaves, printed on rectos only. Square 4to, printed softcover, exposed spine as issued. Cologne & New York: Verlag Gebr. König, [1970].


A special signed copy of an early and very rare Stanley Brouwn (1935-2017) artist’s book; edition of 300. Walther and Kasper König’s pioneering publishing outfit, Verlag Gebrüder König, published this title, one in a series of notable artist’s books that they produced, such as Alison Knowles’s A House of Dust (1967) and Franz Erhard Walther’s Objekte, benutzen (1968). In the present work, Brouwn attempted (truncated) to ask the same question of a computer that he posed to passers-by on the street for his this way brouwn drawings. The book records the artist’s 101 instructions typed on an IBM 360 Model 95 computer.


No. 1: “show brouwn the way in all cities, villages etc. on earth from point x to all other points in that cities, villages etc.”


No. 2: “show brouwn the way from each point on a circle with x as centre and a radius of 1 angström to all other points”


[...]


In near fine condition; upper & lower covers starting to split from spine, as with many copies, and small dampstain to corner of upper cover. Inscribed by Brouwn on the title-page: “24 - [?] - 1975 / Für Carl & [?] Vogel / SB.” This is the first signed example of this title we have seen.


❧ Harry Ruhé, ed., stanley brouwn: a chronology (2nd ed.: 2005). (Inventory #: 10686)