I have a conundrum of sorts. I purchased Andrew Phelps' limited edition book Baghdad Suite. I very much respect his work and 5B4's post sealed the deal. I remember reading Alec Soth's post last June sorting through the tug of preserving the artifact (not to mention value) and wanting to get at the goods by opening a book Martin Parr had signed on the wrapper.
I have made a little poll to the right for you to vote. Not being a glutton for punishment I did not offer "all of the above". The Management reserves the right to do as she pleases, but I'm curious to know if you experience the same moment of question and it's easier to click the poll than write a comment.
Posts
Mel,
ReplyDeletei vote- open it! it's meant to be consumed. loved.
speaking of Alec, i have a copy of his first printing of Mississippi (the wallpaper cover) and i enjoy it so much more than having it all wrapped up and looking through the later edition. can't tell you why exactly- just feels holy.
i'm paranoid as hell when i pull it off the shelf, but it's an event in itself.
on a side note though- the book was the one any only thing i told my mom, when pressed, that i wanted for Christmas that year. the first page is written "Christmas in Iowa, 2004. Love Mom & Dad".
Open it!
but, keep relatives with pens away from it.
I'm glad you agree with my instincts. I hate to be owned by my things. However, I also hate to have someone come along and say "You opened it?!!! What were you thinking??" Obviously, I was thinking I really wanted to look at, absord, live with the book! Man, the wallpaper edition?
ReplyDeleteRelatives with pens must be curtailed. I have an about to be quite famous artist friend, who shall be nameless, who was asked by her Aunt to make a book for her Cousin's graduation. She scanned and edited and sequenced and designed and printed and bound a beautiful artist's book. She presented it to the family at the graduation party. They got out pens, and all the Cousin's friends promptly filled it with Best Friends 4Ever notes. They will deeply regret having done that one day.
I say open it. I totally feel your pain, as I have been transitioning from a non-opener to an opener and user lately. As such: I opened the foil on the food-packaging that the last MF Doom album I bought came in. I don't keep extra filters on my lenses to protect them, and I refuse to encumber my iPhone by putting it in a case. I'm going to actually read through my earlier printing of Slaughterhouse Five soon.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, I'd certainly try real hard to open it by separating the sticker from the bag without tearing it. :)
I have a copy of Baghdad Suite and I went through the same painful process of indecision. In the end, I opened mine. But, i still have a 17 year old moon pie still in the original wrapping. What do you think that's worth? It's vintage 1991.
ReplyDeleteWell, I looked on eBay and the closest I could come was a "new vintage looking Moon Pie sign" going for $14.95 so it looks like you pretty much have that market sewn up!
ReplyDelete