[LIVRE D’ARTISTE, ‘S/N 2007. 134. 001’ ] SPACE PROGRAM / MISSION GUIDE AND EXPERIENCE REPORT ... APPROVED BY / TOM SACHS

Arthur Coleman DANTO (1924-2013, owner / collaborator). – Tom SACHS (b. 1966, ‘flight director’ / creator). [Livre d’Artiste, ‘S/N 2007. 134. 001’ ] Space Program / Mission Guide and Experience Report/ Prepared by / Ground Support New York, McDonald Faculty  Approved by / Tom Sachs / Flight Director, Space Program. Beverly Hills, California: Gagosian Gallery, [2008 ]. Quarto;. Pp. [1]-2-36, [i-ii], 37-104. [i-ii], 105-126, [i-ii], 127-196, [i-ii], 197-210, [i-ii], 211-277, including colored plates, some doublepage, colored illustrations, uncolored illustrations, ‘technical data’.  All within the original white duct-tape sheeting covered three-ring binder, titled on the spine and upper cover. Provenance: Arthur Danto (presentation inscription by Tom Sachs ‘For Arthur Danto / thank you for / yor [sic] support of / this mission. / Tom Sachs.’ ; by descent.

[also included (as issued):]

Space Program / September 8 – October 13, 2007/ … /  Tom Sachs [including ‘S/N 2007.146.001 Moon Rock Report]. [New York ?: 2008] pp. [1-20, [i-ii]; 21-56, including illustrations, some colored. [and:] Genevieve HANSON (photographer). A colored digital photograph ‘S/N 2007.1496.001’ of astronaut Addison Walz descending the LEM’s ladder. 10 x 8 inches, paper label to verso. Loose in clear plastic sleeve. [and:] Van & Casey NEISTAT (videographers). [DVD, titled:] Tom Sachs / A Film About the Space Program / by the Neistat Brothers / Gagosian Gallery / S/N 2007.152.001’ , in a clear plastic pocket attached to inside back cover of the binder.

[in addition:] loosely inserted is the prospectus for the trade version of the main work.

This copy from the 3-ring binder edition limited to 500 copies, but this is a unique out-of-series presentation copy given to the author of the introduction to the exhibition: philosopher and art critic, Arthur Danto. In addition to a full description of the ‘mission’, the binder also contains an introduction to the exhibition from Arthur C. Danto, and conversation with Buzz Aldrin, Tom Sachs, and Louise Neri.

To emphasize: Arthur Danto is not just any recipient; he is the philosopher‑critic whose essay provides the principal art‑historical framing for ‘Space Program’, and whose writing on the “end of art” is (arguably) central to contemporary art discourse in general.

This presentation, out‑of‑series binder inscribed to Danto effectively becomes a primary document linking Sachs’ project to one of its key theoretical interpreters, moving it from “deluxe edition” into the realm of exhibition history and conceptual provenance.