VERY SCARCE PRESENTATION FIRST EDITION OF DALÍ, BOLDLY INSCRIBED BY SALVADOR DALÍ WITH A HIGHLY DESIRABLE ORIGINAL DRAWING OF DON QUIXOTE

DALI, Salvador. Dalí. Edited and Arranged by Max Gérard. Translated by Eleanor R. Morsel. New York: Harry N. Abrams, (1968). Large square quarto (11-1/2 by 12 inches), original pictorial brown cloth, pictorial endpapers, original dust jacket. $7200.

First edition, a very scarce presentation copy, of this richly illustrated volume of Dalí’s work, boldly inscribed in black felt pen across the entire title page and opposite page by Dalí and dated 1974, with a wonderful large original sketch of Don Quixote.

A "pioneer of European Surrealism… Dalí will have a permanent place in the history of art… It was Salvador Dalí, with his meticulous and persuasive visions of a world turned inside out, who brought home to the public at large the full potential of Surrealism… It can also be argued that at his best Dalí wrote out a declaration of independence for the human imagination in a way that is still valid" (New York Times). This magnificent volume, produced under Dalí's supervision, includes many works never before reproduced, as well as his thoughts on subjects such as war, space-time, his wife and muse Gala, eroticism and mysticism. Edited and arranged by Max Gérard. With 271 illustrations, including over 80 plates in color and 23 in toned gravure (many double page). Issued the same year as first French edition, no priority established. This very scarce presentation copy is inscribed, dated 1974, and features a large original sketch of Don Quixote. Dalí first illustrated Don Quixote in 1946, producing 38 original illustrations drawing on his Spanish heritage and cultural knowledge. The magnificent illustrations are highly valued and, accordingly, this sketch is quite desirable. Notably, this work was dated in 1974, just as Dalí was completing his all-consuming project of creating an eponymous theater and museum in his hometown of Figueres in Catalonia.

Book very nearly fine, dust jacket near-fine with only minor wear to extremities. A lovely inscribed presentation copy with desirable original sketch.