[Black Sun Press] Grosz, George. Interregnum

Paris: The Black Sun Press, 1936. First edition, letter H of 20 lettered hors commerce copies, for William Jacob Peabody, Caresse Crosby's son. Folio. Introduction by John Dos Passos. Title-page and text printed in black and in red; List of Plates sheet, loose as issued. Illustrated with color lithographed frontispiece signed by Grosz in pencil and 64 lithograph plates. Publisher's quarter red cloth over imitation wooden board folding case, printed in red, extremities rubbed and lightly worn, scattered light soiling, spine ends frayed; text leaves bound at front hinge and plates loose, as issued; original printed prospectus and two other pieces of ephemera laid in. Minkoff A-44

A fine presentation copy to William Jacob Peabody (1916-55), Caresse Crosby's son from her first marriage, to Richard Rogers Peabody.

In the early 1930s, Caresse Crosby set out to Berlin "to search out George Grosz" whose drawings she admired. (Crosby, The Passionate Years, p. 284). Upon visiting his "heavenlit garret" studio, they struck up the idea for a book featuring Grosz's satiric drawings chronicling the emergence of Nazism in the years between 1928-32. "He was excited, but not so sure of me. Indeed, I was a bolt from the blue or perhaps from the black--he would of course have to check with his dealer, but confessed that he very much wanted to illustrate Hemingway. He asked me if I couldn't arrange it with Hemingway, but I was not so sure of Hemingway. We promised to write each other, and I blew out as unexpectedly as I had blown in...That book of drawings did not materialize immediately, but it was finally accomplished in New York in 1934--Interregnum, eighty (sic) lithographs by George Grosz with reproductions by George Miller, printed by Joseph Blumenthal, introduction by John dos Passos...and edited by Caresse Crosby--it won the Graphic Arts prize as one of the fifty best books of the year--a tribute to those four geniuses whom I had so successfully bound together." (Crosby, p. 285).

Although this work was planned for a print run of 300 copies, only 42 copies were ever printed, including two artist's proofs.

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Darren Winston, Senior Vice President at Freeman’s, has served as Head of Department for Books & Manuscripts, Philadelphia, since 2018. He has been a trustee of the Rosenbach Museum and Library since 2022, is a member of The Manuscript Society, The Bibliographical Society of America, and Philadelphia’s Philobiblon Club.

Raised in northern New Jersey, Darren moved to New York City in 1988 and began his career there as a bookseller in 1995. He spent the next 18 years selling to private clients and at East Coast book fairs. In 2003 he moved with his young family to Sharon, Connecticut where, in 2009, he opened his own bookshop. Darren Winston, Bookseller offered rare and vintage books, prints, fine art, and more, and hosted over 50 book signings and art shows. He was a trustee and, later, Board President, of the Sharon Historical Society, and for six years a trustee of Indian Mountain School in Lakeville, Connecticut.

Darren has hosted the radio program "Darren Winston's Book Report" for NPR-affiliate WHDD since 2009, appeared in the 2014 book-themed documentary The Paper Trail, and in 2024 he joined Antiques Roadshow as a books and manuscripts appraiser. From 1999 to 2005, Darren was the buyer and consultant to the Fine and Rare Books Department at Asprey, the British luxury goods company, at its New York headquarters. While there he spearheaded various in-store events including readings by Salman Rushdie and Dominick Dunne.

In 1993, Darren was hired as a Creative Consultant to Columbia Records, where he assisted in the repackaging of their 12-record Aerosmith back catalogue. He later sold his extensive collection of Aerosmith memorabilia, which he began amassing at the age of 14, directly to the band.

Darren now lives on the Main Line, outside Philadelphia, with his wife, two children, and dog. The family travels frequently to his wife's native England and Scotland. When not bookselling, he plays guitar in Pumped, an Aerosmith tribute band. Darren also appears on the top-rated PBS television program Antiques Roadshow.

Fine Printed Books & Manuscripts, Including Americana

[Black Sun Press] Grosz, George. Interregnum

Fine Printed Books & Manuscripts, Including Americana

[Black Sun Press] Grosz, George. Interregnum

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