John Olsen. My complete graphics 1957 – 1979 (printer’s production proof copy with proof sheets)

Introduction by Lou Klepac. Melbourne: Australian Galleries and Gryphon Books, 1980. Folio, gilt-decorated cloth in illustrated dustjacket (slight wear at head of spine), 248pp. illustrated throughout. Limited to 1000 copies signed by Olsen.

My complete graphics was successfully released late in 1980, but not before a major disagreement between Olsen, publisher Richard Griffin and Australian Galleries where the book was launched at an earlier exhibition. Dissatisfaction with the quality of product (advance copies of which actually arrived late on the night of the launch) saw Griffin pull the book from sale, and pulp the entire edition. Only a handful of copies escaped this fate.The book was then reprinted and issued in a standard edition, and deluxe edition with signed etching.

This is the printer’s copy, signed by John Olsen and marked ‘Production copy’. It is the final mockup copy prepared prior to publication, it is printed on white paper stock (the finished book is on cream), and contains minor corrections and alterations to text and design which differ to the finished book.

Unique.