The bolted book (Depero futurista)

Abstract

"The iconic Bolted Book ‘a mile stone in futurist book production’. Oblong 4to. (24.5 x 32cm) Emblematic collection of futurist designs (many coloured) and text with a total of 123 paper components made up of various materials in different colours including a double folding text leaf, 2 transparent guards, sectional leaves, endpapers and original grey paper boards, held together with 2 large metal nuts and bolts. Text often printed in red and black in a variety of geometrical shapes, with large lettering, vertical pagination, mirrored or oblique designs and symbols. Blank reverse of coloured title page signed by both the author and editor-publisher, J. Azari, in green ink. First edition of this celebrated artist book expressing the essence of futurism. It represents a fusion of Depero’s work in painting, sculpture, architecture, theatre, decoration, but above all his experimental graphics and typography for the early publications of the futurist movement. The concept of using 2 bolts and nuts for uniting this striking compilation makes it an extraordinary creative object per se. The editor’s novel idea is expressed in the printed caption between the bolts ‘rilegatura Dinamo creazione Azari’ (refastened by Dinamo created by Azari). The artist himself called it ‘Libro Imbullonato’ (the ‘Bolted Book’). The geometric illustration on the front cover represents a frontispiece in reverse. The book is considered one of 4 fundamental works on Italian futurism."- www.abebooks.de/servlet/Book.

Contents

Reader's guide to the facsimile of Depero Futurista also known as the Bolted Book / [contributors:] Steven Heller, Nicoletta Boschiero, Federico Zanoner, Gianluca Camillini, Raffaele Bedarida.