Talk:Twentysix Gasoline Stations

Question about the publisher

According to UCLA's original cataloging for this work,

500 __ |a 400 copies printed in April, 1963 by the Cunningham Press, Alhambra, California. Library has no. 185.

Since UCLA does original cataloging, this would appear to indicate that the publishing press of record is Cunningham. If it's not, is there any documentation that a different press did the first edition? Part of the problem is the mention that all copies might be identical. The OCLC record for the first edition lists that no publisher nor place of publication was listed in the work (e.g., [S.l. : s.n]) --Quartermaster (talk)

Sorry it took so long, but I've gone back to check the details of publisher as listed in the catalogue raisonné; The book is definitely self-published (ie, he paid for it himself and then was responsible for publicity and distribution) but was printed by the Cunningham Press, Alhambra California. Edward Ruscha Editions, Engberg, Phillpot, Walker Art Center, 1999 Vol2 p123 lists the publisher as "A National Excelsior Publication" which is also backed up by a contemporary advert printed in an art magazine reproduced in vol2 on p60. He seems to have changed his publishing name to 'Heavy Industries Publications' in the late 60s. The distinction between printer and publisher remains important tho- one of the reasons for it's status as a prototypical modern artist's book is the way it was self-published, and designed from beginning to end by Ruscha alone.Franciselliott (talk) 18:39, 30 November 2008 (UTC)

Additional info from Abebooks:

Description: First edition of Ruscha's first book. Inscribed by Ruscha and additionally signed. Limited to 400 numbered copies, this unnumbered copy is one of Ruscha's personal author copies. He presented this copy to a fellow artist whose parents owned Anderson, Ritchie & Simon---the printing firm that produced many of Ruscha's books. Included is a letter of provenance from the recipient. Spine slightly toned, else near fine. Scarce, especially so signed. Bookseller Inventory # 2903

Bibliographic Details

Publisher: Alhambra, CA: Cunningham Press/National Excelsior], 1963 Publication Date: 1963 Binding: Soft cover Book Condition: Fine Signed: Inscribed by Author(s) Edition: 1st Edition

--Quartermaster (talk) 23:50, 7 October 2008 (UTC)

• Abe books/08-10-2008 second entry lists a first edition 'Ed Ruscha Heavy Industry Publications and Multiples Inc., Los Angeles, Hollywood, California and New York, 1963. Soft cover. Book Condition: Fine. 1st Edition.' I've only seen a third edition. I suspect that the first entry as mentioned above is not a first edition, since it isn't numbered. But that might be almost libel. Not aware of any first editions in UK, so hard to say for sure. Perhaps someone in LA could check it out?? Next time I'm at the V&A I'll re-check the catalogue raisoneeFranciselliott (talk) 13:05, 8 October 2008 (UTC)

By the nature of this publication, this is going to be an ongoing issue. I want to keep stressing that I have no invested interest in one answer or the other. I suspect that an eventual tightening of the article in this area regarding the book might discuss the problems with establishing edition and publisher, rather than stating a definitive conclusion. Having taken a graduate level class in analytical bibliography I can state that such issues are seldom conclusive; you end up having support to varying degrees of different contentions. Obviously, I find this interesting. I'd like to personally examine a "true" first edition for more enlightenment.

Re: Abebooks records - these are created by book sellers who have a vested interest in the sale of an item based on edition (not malicious, just a fact to be recognized). I've run in to similar problems with establishing editions of the works of Warja Lavater. --Quartermaster (talk) 15:06, 8 October 2008 (UTC)