SCARCE ORIGINAL IRMA STERN LITHOGRAPHIC EX-LIBRIS

On offer is a rare original Irma Stern Ex-Libris in the form of an original lithograph, printed on a sheet of cream coloured paper measuring 190 x 152mm. with the printed image being 140 x 105mm. The image shows an African female wooden bust, a painting on the wall, a pot plant and a palette. Apart from Stern’s one off original watercolour bookplates, she only made three original graphic bookplates, of which only 20-30 copies of each have been identified (ref: Bulow, Irene – Hidden Treasures – Irma Stern – Her Books, Painted Book Covers and Bookplates, Publ. Society of Bibliophiles, Cape Town, 2000). As per this book, the bookplate on offer here was used for her art books and is the largest and ‘most important of all her bookplates, and particularly revealing of her image of herself as an artist’. It is illustrated on a full page in the book (p 54) and Dr Bulow has devoted two full pages of text to this plate. 

Condition: It does not appear that this bookplate has been laid down on a book endpaper as there is no evidence of glue residue on the reverse of the plate. Slight evidence along the reverse of one edge suggests in may have been affixed by two marginal hinges – either to a book or an album. Despite the fairly fragile nature of the paper, the plate is in good condition with two areas of minor chipping along the edges well away from the printed image. Adjacent to one of the small chips is a totally closed, almost invisible 15mm. tear. Images of both sides of this ex-libris have been provided. Provenance: The item was purchased from a German book dealer about 8 years ago.