Topolski's Chronicle, Vols. 1-15, 1953-1978, with signed prints, one original drawing, signed note, etc.

London: Published by the Artist, 1978. First Printing. Very good. A very close to complete set of this very rare chronicle in over 3000 drawings of world events and places from 1953 to 1978, beginning with the coronation of Queen Elizabeth, by the expressionist Polish-born artist who made his home in London but traveled to Africa, Asia, Russia, America, Cuba, and even Mongolia. 14 of the 15 volumes are housed in 20 x 13 inch yellow cardboard printed chemises, with Topolski's drawings of his travels and attendance at historical events, art events, concerts, theater, etc., done on a variety of paper stock, mainly on craft paper stock of various hues tending toward gray, blue, cream and tan, on which he would print in lithograph, screen print or photo offset his drawings and sketches, some in colors, and some folding out to large dimensions. Mainly very good with a few minor exceptions. Each number was issued fortnightly, and each volume contains between 12 and 24 numbers, some grouped together to form unbound booklets and sheafs of prints, often captioned. It is rumored that most print runs were 200 or fewer. LACKING the following numbers: Vol. 2 no. 7, Vol. 3 no. 1, Vol. 5 no. 9, Vol. 11 nos. 1-8 (a sheaf celebrating the tenth anniversary of the chronicle). We have the complete Vol. 15 which was issued haphazardly: nos. 1-8; issued as "Work--Recent and in Progress, Concepts, Projects," signed and numbered 21/75 copies in original cardboard mailing envelope; nos. 9-16, a single huge folded black paper lithograph in colors measuring 93 x 39 inches, signed and numbered 21/75, no. 17, also no. 21/75 signed, a double-page color lithograph chronicling a royal wedding in South Africa (light creasing and wear along bottom margin of print), nos. 18-20 a color poster "Memoir of the Century" 21/75 signed, the verso having some foxing and light wear, nos. 21-22, single sheet images from 1978 of Pope Paul II, (21 unsigned, no. 22 is 21/75 signed); no. 23, a large color folding poster for the "Memoir of the Century" exhibit in London, 21/75 signed, and finally no. 24, a large folding color poster, 21/75 signed. The Chronicle begins, as noted, in 1953 and Vol. 14 is from 1967 (the latter part of Vol. 13 and all of Vol. 14 comprise "Asia: The Arena" -- documenting Topolski's travels in Siberia, Mongolia, China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, and India). Vol. 15 seems to have been issued haphazardly and not in a single chemise as had the other volumes, so it is a rarity to find the 15th volume complete, as it is here. In addition to the Chronicle, we are also including: 1) ORIGINAL DRAWING in ink, crayon and pencil, signed, of double-decker buses, Rolls Royce, etc., in front of the Hyde Park Barracks at Knightsbridge in London (small brown smudge at bottom, some darkening to upper margin, on grayish laid paper, from a sketchbook, probably 1960s. 2) 1967 receipt to Barbara Dorn (well known interior designer in NY and SF) for a set of the Chronicles, with note from Topolski handwritten on it to her, as well as various correspondence and notes from Topolski's assistant, Joanna Spratley. 3) 22.5 x 18" prospectus for the chronicles, double-page lithograph in colors, with an invaluable list of the contents of each of the 14 volumes published to date; light wear and small paperclip indentation. Mainly very good, occasional creasing and rumpling, one or two images with stains, a couple with pinholes. Dorn's original note to Topolski is also included, ordering the set of 14 volumes, and she explains that she needs a complete set because the set she had was rendered incomplete by her giving various images away, thus explaining the (relatively few) missing numbers. 4) A complete duplicate, with some wear and staining, of Vol. 14 "Asia: The Arena" as well as some incomplete portions of Vol. 13. And 5) poster for "Topolski the Chronicler" at the Grosvenor Gallery, London, 1968, with light wear, paperclip rust, stamp from Barbara Dorn's office, and usual mailing folds... The Chronicles appeared fortnightly from 1953 to 1979, interrupted only to accommodate his exploratory investigations across the globe. The Chronicles communicated his art and observations to a wider audience. They were independently published, without advertisements or subsidies. Since his death in 1989 Topolski's Chronicles have retained respect as a pictorial and political record spanning nearly 30 years of world history. The Chronicles contain 3,000 drawings, and were exhibited in New York City, Moscow, Cologne, Hamburg, Hawaii, Tel Aviv and serialised in the United States, Poland, Italy, Denmark and Switzerland. Joyce Cary wrote, it is "the most brilliant record we have of the contemporary scene as seized by a contemporary mind." Topolski was clearly left-leaning in his politics and views of society but his subjects included a wide swath of social classes and events and he was not immune to the impressiveness of pageantry and pomp. He chronicled protests, wars, poetry readings, weddings, parties, marches, assassinations, and had a fondness for working people and daily life. An amazing document that traverses the world and its history over a period of 25 years. Unlikely that another such assemblage will be on the market any time soon.