Small Archive of Original Art
Collection of original art and collage from New York underground artist Kasoundra Kasoundra.
Overall very good.
Price: $8,500.00
Small Archive of Original Art
Kasoundra moved to NYC in 1960 and quickly made herself a fixture among Village bohemians. Chelsea Hotel regular, illustrator to the Olympia Press, assistant to Edward Gorey and Joseph Cornell, co-dedicee of Germaine Greer's landmark THE FEMALE EUNUCH ("For Kasoundra, who makes magic out of skins and skeins and pens, who is never still, never unaware, riding her strange destiny in the wilderness of New York, loyal and bitter, as strong as a rope of steel and as soft as a sigh"), ALICE'S RESTAURANT actress, and Harry Smith collaborator, for decades Kasoundra wove her way Zelig-like through various downtown scenes. And the collection of works offered here in many ways captures her overlapping talents and associations. From a strikingly-altered copy of a Lou Reed LP and an exquisitely collaged Cornell-esque artist's book, to a pair of darkly subversive manuscript tales in the Gorey tradition, the collection reveals a vital and unjustly overlooked artist. While her works are reportedly in the collections of such luminaries as Brice Marden and Debby Harry, the fate of much of Kasoundra's archive remains uncertain after her the tragic and much-publicized loss of her rent-stabilized apartment in 2011. Worthy of rediscovery, preservation, and exhibition.
The Object
New York: n.p, [ca. 1970s]. Five items. 1. Small 8vo. sketchbook, ca. 1972. Yellow cloth. Containing original unique altered artist's book titled "The device was neatly packed, ready for another adventure" [cover]. Filled front to back with elaborate collages. Generally very good condition. 2. 4to. sketchbook, ca. 1977. Quarter leather over boards. Approximately 3/4 full of collages, pastels, sketches, texts and other works, both preliminary and (apparently) complete. Worn, but sound. About very good. 3. Hand-altered copy of Lou Reed's LP ROCK N' ROLL ANIMAL with extensive silver paint interventions by Kasoundra. Very good. 4. Small 12mo. handmade manuscript book entitled END OF A PROBLEM. 12pp. of text, art, and collage elements. Rectos only. Inscribed by Kasoundra in 1970. Good only with some splitting at the spine. 5. Small 12mo. handmade manuscript book entitled LORD OF THE FROGS. 16pp. of text and watercolors, both recto and verso. Largely disbound, with leaves housed in plastic sleeves (as assembled by the artist). About good. Overall, a well preserved collection.
The Fine Print
We work hard to meet our ethical responsibility to describe our material accurately. All items are guaranteed as described and may be returned for any reason within 30 days. Please notify us before mailing a return.
We guarantee the authenticity of our items. All materials are original (meaning not facsimiles or reproductions) unless otherwise noted. First editions (meaning first edition, first printing) are explicitly stated. TPM is a member of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America and upholds their Code of Ethics.
All photographs are of the actual item for sale. We're happy to provide additional images on request.
All domestic orders ship gratis. For orders under $250, free USPS media mail shipping is included; orders $250 and over ship USPS Priority. International orders over $500 also ship gratis. Expedited, overnight, as well as other carriers (UPS, Fed-Ex, etc.), may carry additional costs beyond quoted rates. All orders receive tracking information and a direct contact in case of any questions.
International buyers are responsible for any customs, taxes, and related import fees. Please note that we are unable to accomodate requests to misrepresent, misdeclare, or otherwise falsify customs documents when shipping internationally. We appreciate your understanding.
We accept all major credit cards, Paypal, Venmo, check, money order, and bank wire. We are happy to bill institutional buyers' needs. Sales tax will be added to applicable purchases. Items subject to prior sale.
If for any reason you are dissatisfied with your purchase, please contact us. We prioritize our long-term relationships far above any individual purchase, and we want you to love your item as much as we loved cataloguing it.
