21

Gustave Baumann

1881 - 1971

Frijoles Canyon Pictographs + Original Publishers Prospectus, 1939

woodcuts, letterpress, edition of 480
inscribed on flyleaf page: Christmas 1939 / To our very dearest of friends, Lois, our love and a Merry Christmas from May and Dick.
signed at lower right of foldout print: Gustave Baumann.

having forty-eight pages with 25 woodcut illustrations on Bayreuth Antique paper, with text printed in letterpress by Willard Clark
also present is an original prospectus from the Writer's Editions with additional information
8 3/4 x 7 5/8 x 3/8 in. (22.2 x 19.4 x 1 cm.)

  • Provenance: Private Collection, New Mexico

    Gustave Baumann's Frijoles Canyon Pictographs, published in 1939 by Writers' Editions in Santa Fe, New Mexico, is a landmark Southwest book-arts project. Published in a limited edition of 480 with 25 woodcuts (including a folding plate) documenting the rock art of Frijoles Canyon/Bandelier that Baumann sketched and printed himself. The text was letterpress-set by Willard Clark on Bayreuth Antique paper; Hazel Dreis bound the edition in decorated cloth with paper labels. It was named one of the Fifty Books of the Year by the American Institute of Graphic Arts when it appeared in 1939. The volume fuses Baumann's color-woodcut craft with regional archaeology, making it a prized, quintessential Santa Fe-era publication.
  • Condition: This piece is in very good condition overall. There is partial loss of the original spine label. The covers are fine, showing only minimal wear at the corners. The interior is very fine, with bright, crisp pages throughout. The binding is fully intact. The original publisher's prospectus is in good condition showing a minor, horizontal fold through the center of the sheet. Overall, an excellent example of this sought-after original book by Baumann.

    A condition report for this lot is available upon request and is provided by Santa Fe Art Auction as a courtesy and convenience for potential buyers.

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November 7, 2025 1:00 PM MST
Santa Fe, NM, US

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