HAYTER, Stanley, William

‘Invocation’, ‘Figure’, ‘The Adjustable Face’, ‘Sibling’ Original Prints in ‘London Bulletin, 1939’

Description

Stanley William Hayter; John Buckland Wright; John Banting;    Four Original Prints in ‘London Bulletin.’ June 1940.

The book has 52pp. and is bound in the original paper wrappers. The book, London Bulletin’ was printed in June 1940. It has 52pp. and is bound in the original paper wrappers. The wrappers are worn, especially along the spine, parts of which have been reinforced with sellotape. Printed on cheap war time paper excepting the first three prints listed below.

‘Invocation’ by S.W.Hayter   (Ref: Black & Moorhead 129)
Copper plate with engraving with engraving scorper & soft ground etching. Printed on handmade laid Monval paper, as published by ‘London Bulletin’ 1940, signed and dated 1939 in the plate. Signed and numbered 17 of 100 copies by the artist, S.W.Hayter. Rare.
Plate size 158 x 113mm;    Sheet size 260 x 190mm  (Plate size 6 x 5 inches; Sheet size 10 x 7.5 inches)

The etching is stitched into a copy of ‘London Bulletin’ therefore is part of a book. The other prints in the book, as usually issued, are as follows:

‘Figure’ (Black & Moorehead 131) A wood engraving printed in red and blue, cut by John Buckland Wright after Hayter printed on Abbey Mills Laid paper, edition size unknown.

Plate size 228 x 140mm;     Sheet size 260 x 190mm  (Plate size 9 x 5.5 inches; Sheet size 10 x 7.5 inches)

‘The Adjustable Face‘ A Coloured woodcut printed on buff coloured paper in orange and pink by John Banting, edition size unknown.

Plate size 180 x 150mm;     Sheet size 260 x 190mm  (Plate size 7 x 5.75 inches; Sheet size 10 x 7.5 inches)

‘Sibling’ , a woodcut printed in black by John Buckland Wright, edition size unknown. Printed on war time paper.   Plate size   143 x 85mm;  Sheet size 260 x 190mm  (Plate size 5.5 x 3.25 inches; Sheet size 10 x 7.5 inches)

Black and Moorhead states that there were ‘artists proofs 1-5; a Ltd Ed. of 30 on Monval paper, published by ‘London Bulletin’. The second state of this Hayter etching ‘Invocation’ was published in 1973, 1-100 copies plus artists proofs 1-XX printed by Hector Seunier and Rigmor Poenard on Barcham Green paper as part of the ‘Hayter-Nine Etchings’ published in 1974. States IV the plate is cancelled.

Therefore the etching for sale within the book ‘ London Bulletin’ is First state of four. However there is still the question of the number. We can only surmise that ’London Bulletin’ had hoped to have an edition of 100 copies with the etching included. However, with the Second World War and S.W.Hayter moving to New York they may have decided to curtail publication. Black & Moorhead may have seen this etching numbered up to 30 and assumed that was the edition size.

MORE IMAGES CAN BE SENT ON REQUEST

Item details

The ‘June 1940’, issue 18-20 of the ‘London Bulletin’ was the last issue printed in the Second World War (1939-1945). First issued in April 1938, ‘London Bulletin’ was very short lived. Each issue published had different colour wrappers and titles in various colours with varying number of pages, although the size 250 x 190mm was consistent. The magazine had been the most influential English Surrealist periodical and was edited by E.L.T. Mesens. Although it described itself as an avant-garde review, Surrealist contributions predominated; the periodical also featured Constructivism and more abstract art. Contributors included Paul Eluard, Herbert Read, Mesens, André Breton, Nash, Tanguy, Beckett, Peret, Picabia, George Reavey, Humphrey Jennings, Roland Penrose, Eileen Agar, John Banting, Conroy Maddox and many others.