• John Skelton: A Sculptor's Work 1950–1975 (1975). Front cover of the hardcover book, bound in textured natural-coloured cloth with a small black stylised “JS” monogram centred on the front cover.
  • John Skelton: A Sculptor’s Work 1950–1975 (1977). Interior title spread with a black-and-white photograph of John Skelton working in his studio beside a large stone sculpture on the left, and the title page in red and black typography on the right.
  • John Skelton: A Sculptor’s Work 1950–1975 (1977). Interior spread showing the publication details and copyright information on the left and the contents page on the right, listing a foreword by Joan Ellis, an introduction by John Skelton, the catalogue of works and the list of illustrations.
  • John Skelton: A Sculptor’s Work 1950–1975 (1977). Full-page black line drawing of John Skelton’s sculpture workshop at Streat, showing a spacious studio filled with tools, workbenches, sculptures, ladders and equipment, captioned “The Workshop at Streat.”
  • John Skelton: A Sculptor’s Work 1950–1975 (1977). Interior spread with a text page discussing John Skelton’s sculptural process on the left and a black-and-white drawing of hands on the right, captioned “Study for Hands, Our Lady of Pity 1967.”
  • John Skelton: A Sculptor’s Work 1950–1975 (1977). Interior spread showing the acknowledgements on the left and a “List of Illustrations of Works” on the right, listing 26 illustrated sculptures and their catalogue numbers and dates.
  • John Skelton: A Sculptor’s Work 1950–1975 (1977). Interior spread showing catalogue entries 31–37 on the left, with Plate 6 on the right featuring a black-and-white photograph of Variation on the Willendorf Venus (1963).
  • John Skelton: A Sculptor’s Work 1950–1975 (1977). Interior spread showing catalogue entries 38–44 on the left, including Hunger, Four Panels, Altar and Bird, with Plate 7 on the right featuring a black-and-white photograph of Aftermath of War (1965).
  • John Skelton: A Sculptor’s Work 1950–1975 (1977). Interior spread showing catalogue entries 45–49 on the left, including Crucifix, Sculpture for a Roman Landing Place, Map and Three Heraldic Carvings, with Plate 8 on the right featuring a black-and-white photograph of Torso with Drapery (1966).
  • John Skelton: A Sculptor’s Work 1950–1975 (1977). Interior spread showing catalogue entries 62–66 on the left, including Salomé: after Oscar Wilde, City of Coventry, Forma Viva and Madonna and Child, with Plate 11 on the right featuring a black-and-white photograph of Rhythmic Form (1967).
  • John Skelton: A Sculptor’s Work 1950–1975 (1977). Interior spread showing catalogue entries 67–72 on the left, including Head Boards for Children’s Beds, Weather Vane – Rampant Lion, Christ in Glory, Eagle and St Andrew, Fisherman, with Plate 12 on the right featuring a black-and-white photograph of Two Torsos (1968).
  • John Skelton: A Sculptor’s Work 1950–1975 (1977). Interior spread showing catalogue entries 73–79 on the left, including St Andrew, Fisherman, Dog into Space, The One Family of Man, Curved Forms, Spirit of Growth, Tower of Babel and Torso of Adam, with Plate 13 on the right featuring a black-and-white photograph of Trophy II (1968).
  • John Skelton: A Sculptor’s Work 1950–1975 (1977). Interior spread showing catalogue entries 99–105 on the left, including Head of Child, Bird in Flight, Dove, Two Forms Turning, Horned Beast, Fragment and Box Screen, with Plate 17 on the right featuring a black-and-white photograph of Symbol (1970).
  • John Skelton: A Sculptor’s Work 1950–1975 (1977). Edition page stating that 222 copies were printed, including 22 numbered copies bound by George Percival of Leicester and signed by the sculptor, with this copy marked “Review Copy” and signed by John Skelton. Printed at Skelton’s Press in February 1977.
  • John Skelton: A Sculptor's Work 1950–1975 (1975). Plain back cover of the hardcover book, bound in textured natural-coloured cloth.
  • Two copies of the publisher’s prospectus of John Skelton: A Sculptor’s Work 1950–1975 (1977).
  • John Skelton: A Sculptor’s Work 1950–1975 (1977). Two copies of the publisher’s prospectus describing the book’s contents, design and limited edition of 222 copies, including details of the 28 plates, special signed copies and original publication prices.
  • Two copies of publisher's prospectus of John Skelton: A Sculptor’s Work 1950–1975 (1977), showing catalogue entries 153–158, including Man Woman Mould, St Cecilia, Egg and Dart, Mural: Petrochemical Industries, Winged Figure and Torso, with Plate 26 featuring a black-and-white tipped-in photograph of Torso (1975).
  • Three vintage photographs of John Skelton’s sculptures, including a reclining stone figure, the outdoor stone Torso (1975), and an abstract standing torso sculpture displayed in a gallery.
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PRINTED AFFAIRS

A SCULPTOR'S WORK 1950–1975 by John Skelton [1977]

A SCULPTOR'S WORK 1950–1975 by John Skelton [1977]

£150.00 GBP
£150.00 GBP
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Christopher Skelton / Skelton’s Press, Wellingborough, 1977 | Hardcover, 80pp | 19 x 27.5 cm | First Edition

**Review Copy signed by John Skelton**

A beautifully produced and incredibly scarce limited-edition catalogue documenting John Skelton’s sculpture, published in 1977 to mark the completion of the sculptor’s first 25 years of work. The catalogue records over 150 sculptures, with 26 of the major works illustrated, alongside drawings and photographs of Skelton at work. It also includes a specially commissioned line drawing of his workshop at Streat.

The publication brings together Skelton’s own account of his practice with a critical perspective on his career. In the introduction, the artist discusses his work, including his techniques and the materials he used. The accompanying critical and biographical survey by Joan Ellis, a journalist, broadcaster and contributor to Arts Review, places his work in wider cultural context. 

The book was published in a limited edition of 222 copies only. It was designed and printed by Skelton’s brother Christopher Skelton and is a particularly fine example of private-press production, printed in Monophoto Plantin on Mi-Teintes Canson paper, with 28 plates printed on art paper and tipped in. The gold-printed endpapers reproduce a rubbing taken from one of Skelton’s sculptures, adding another tactile connection between the publication and the artist’s work.

Adding considerably to the interest of this particular copy is the contemporary ephemera loosely inserted throughout the book. This includes the original publisher’s prospectuses for the catalogue, which provide detailed information about the publication, as well as three vintage photographic prints of Skelton’s sculptures. One of these photographs depicts Torso (1975), which is reproduced as plate 26 in the catalogue.

Excellent condition: The textured art-canvas binding has some light age-related marking and wear, particularly around the edges. Internally clean, crisp and tightly bound - appears unread. Just a touch of age-toning along the edges of the tipped-in plates. The loose photographs and prospectuses show light to mild age-related edge wear, but are in very good condtion overall.

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