South African Lithographs by Walter Battiss

Subtitled "A Series of Twelve from the Original Plates, Each Signed by the Artist. Limited to 150 Sets. Five Guineas". In my long association with South African Art Books and Portfolios, this is by far the scarcest Battiss "Book Item", although it contains no text. This is only the second copy that I have ever seen or indeed heard of. I believe it to be much scarcer than the Bushman and the Fook items and his few other more modern portfolios. It is not mentioned in the major Battiss monographs or general S.A.Art reference works, but is referenced in the Battiss bibliography by Lee Van Bruggen who estimates the publication date circa 1950. It comprises 12 black and white lithographed drawings of South African cities and towns, each one individually signed and numbered by Battiss in the margin, this set being No. 144/150. They are enclosed in a stiffish but fragile decorated green paper portfolio cover. This cover is remarkably intact and complete although it does have slight edge wear, fraying and creasing. The plates on light cream paper are all in nice state and unfoxed. I would guess that many of these plates would have been framed at the time of issue and that very few complete portfolios have survived, particularly in such nice state.