PETER BEARD: COLLECTORS EDITION, Peter Beard, SIGNED Start Price USD 17,995.00 Current Price USD 17,995.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Tuesday, August 26, 2008 End Time Friday, September 05, 2008 Location Boston, Massachusetts See more about 'PETER BEARD: COLLECTORS EDITION, Peter Beard, SIGNED' Description “PETER BEARD, COLLECTOR’S EDITION” - SIGNED“Fayel Tall (1987/2006)”Photography by Peter BeardPublished by Taschen Verlag, Köln, Germany, 2007SIGNED & NUMBERED by the ArtistLIMITED COLLECTOR'S EDITION of 250 COPIES with SIGNED PRINTPhotographer, collector, diarist, and writer of books, Peter Beard has fashioned his life into a work of art; the illustrated diaries he kept from a young age evolved into a serious career as an artist and earned him a central position in the international art world. He was painted by Francis Bacon, painted on by Salvador Dalí, and made diaries with Andy Warhol; he toured with Truman Capote and the Rolling Stones, created books with Jacqueline Onassis and Mick Jagger—all of whom are brought to life, literally and figuratively, in his work. As a fashion photographer, he took Vogue stars like Veruschka to Africa and brought new ones—most notably Iman—back to the U.S. with him.His love affair with natural history and wildlife, which informs most of his work, began when he was a teenager. He had read the books of Isak Dinesen (Karen Blixen) and after spending time in Kenya and befriending the author, bought a piece of land near hers. It was the early 1960s and the big game hunters led safaris, with all the colonial elements Beard had read about in "Out of Africa" characterizing the open life and landscape, but the times were changing. Beard witnessed the dawn of Kenya's population explosion, which challenged finite resources and stressed animal populations—including the starving elephants of Tsavo, dying by the tens of thousands in a wasteland of eaten trees. So he documented what he saw—with diaries, photographs, and collages. He went against the wind in publishing unique and sometimes shocking books of these works. The corpses were laid bare; the facts were carefully written down sometimes in type, often by hand, occasionally with blood.From Francis Bacon:"The most poignant are the ones of decomposing elephants where, over time, as they disintegrate, the bones form magnificent sculpture—sculpture which is not just abstract form but has all the memory traces of life, despair and futility."Spilling out over the pages of this massive tome, Peter Beard's collages are reproduced as a group for the first time at the size they have always meant to be seen, some as foldouts. Hundreds of smaller-scale works and diaries fill the remaining spreads—magnified to show every detail, from Beard's meticulous handwriting and old-master-inspired drawings to stones and bones and bits of animals pasted to the page. Available in both Art and Collector's editions, this opulent and beautifully crafted limited edition—complete with wooden stand — is a work of art in itself.This magnificent SIGNED/NUMBERED LIMITED COLLECTOR'S EDITION is in AS NEW condition. Top Choice Books offers one of copies 1-125, which is SIGNED by Peter Beard and is accompanied by the gelatin silver print "Fayel Tall" (1987/2006). The image is printed on 50.8 cm x 40.64 (16 x 20 inch) paper and signed below the image by the artist. The main book, adorned in a sumptuous leather cover, contains 200 pages of diaries and 294 pages of collages plus 5 gatefolds as well as an original essay by photo critic Owen Edwards. The book measures 13.5 x 19.75 inches.The companion book, "PB2," is an image index with captions for all images from main book, personal photos and early work of the artist, interview with the artist by Steven M. L. Aronson, a facsimile reprint of Beard's 1993 handwritten essay from the sold-out first issue of Blind Spot magazine, extensive bibliography, and a list of exhibitions. All color illustrations are color-separated and reproduced in Pan4C, the finest reproduction technique available today, which provides unequalled intensity and color range. The book comes with a specially fabricated wood book stand. The massive entire package (80+ pounds) is presented in a velvet-lined wood-shipping crate. The print run of "Peter Beard: Collector's Edition" has already sold out from the Publisher, and is now OUT-OF-PRINT, but is IN STOCK at Top Choice Books. Taschen sold their last copy at $15,000, and they are now out-of-print. Only 2 are seen online. This work of Art is nothing short of a MASTERPIECE.IN SUMMARYFeatures:    * Comes with a specially fabricated wood book stand    * XXL-Format: 34.5 x 50 cm (13.4 x 19.7 in.)    * Main book: 200 pages of diaries and 294 pages of collages + 5 fold-outs    * Original essay by photo critic Owen Edwards    * Companion volume: PB2 image index with captions for all images from main book, personal photos and early work of the artist, interview with the artist by Steven M. L. Aronson , a facsimile reprint of Beard`s 1993 handwritten essay from the sold-out first issue of Blind Spot magazine, extensive bibliography, and a list of exhibitions    * All color illustrations are color-separated and reproduced in Pan4C, the finest reproduction technique available today, which provides unequalled intensity and color rangeCollector's Edition, Edition Numbers 1 to 250    * Limited to 250 individually numbered copies, each signed by Peter Beard    * Books No. 1-125 accompanied by the gelatin-silver print "Fayel Tall" (1987/2006). Printed on 50.8 cm x 40.64 (16 in. x 20 in.) paper and signed below the image by the artist.    * Sumptuous leather cover    * Packaged in a velvet-lined wood shipping crate Top Choice Books, LLC, has only ONE COPY available for sale. It has been meticulously maintained in a temperature and humidity controlled environment, with clean air. The book is still sealed in its original box and has never been touched or displayed. It is in completely mint condition.PAYMENT DETAILSFLAT RATE(NOTE: Any excess postage will be refunded)Shipping with the 48 States: FedEx Ground: $175FedEx 2-day: $425FedEx Overnight: $575International shipping is availableFedEx International Economy:  $575.00International Priority:  $800.00  I will only accept PayPal, personal checks, and money orders (bank, post office).  Payment MUST be received within three business days of the purchase, or the item will be re-listed unless other arrangements have been approved. I will ship by USPS Priority/Express Mail, or FedEx, with REQUIRED shipping Insurance, and Delivery/Signature Confirmation, unless otherwise stated in the auction.   International purchases are welcome. I will ONLY ship by USPS Express/Priority Service or FedEx International Service, which have on-line tracking and some insurance, however, the shipment will be fully insured. Buyer is responsible for any import taxes or duty associated with this purchase. UNDERSTAND that there is no warranty for international shipments once the package leaves the United States. Insurance is therefore required.   As always, if you have any questions about this item, or this auction, please contact me BEFORE you purchase this item. All sales are final unless tracking and/or full insurance is purchased. Place a Bid!