Liber mobile: An Experimental Book (Keepsake No. 11)
Artist: Werner Pfeiffer (American, born 1937)
Publisher: Pratt Adlib Press , Brooklyn, New York, 1967
Printer: Werner Pfeiffer (American, born 1937)
Date: 1967
Dimensions:
Book: H: 19 5/8 in. (499 mm); W: 14 1/8 in. (358 mm); Depth: 3/8 in. (10 mm);
Page: H: 19 1/2 in. (496 mm); W: 13 3/4 in. (350 mm)
Medium: Letterpress on white wove paper
Classification: Books
Credit Line: Gift of Molly and Walter Bareiss
Object number: 1984.870
Label Text:Werner Pfeiffer, Liber mobile: An Experimental Book (1967)
Born in 1937 in Stuttgart, Pfeiffer emigrated to the United States in 1961 and found work as a designer and art director. In 1969, he was appointed as professor and director of the Adlib Press at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, where he worked until his recent retirement.
Pfeiffer sent us the following notes on Liber Mobile:
“The seeds for making Liber Mobile were planted in the early- and mid-sixties, at a time when Marshal MacLuhan was spreading the gospel of the global village and the end of the typographic man. It was also the time when the computer posted a first serious challenge to the traditional ways of communicating, and copiers became more sophisticated and widely available. In this environment I wanted to create a book, which on one hand used traditional means of putting images on paper, such as letterpress, but at the same time was experimental, interactive and projecting possible ideas for a future direction of the book.
The Pratt Adlib Press began as an experiment to produce handmade books by students in the Department of Graphic Arts & Illustration at Pratt Institute [Brooklyn, New York] in the mid 1950's. By the early 1960's the Adlib Press had grown into a full fledged publishing venture of limited edition artist books, with a full time printer and editor, and several faculty members participating in the activities of the press. Due to internal curriculum changes as well as financial limitations the Pratt Adlib Press stopped publishing in 1975. The Adlib Press is continuing in the form of the Art of the Book program at Pratt, which does publish some titles on an irregular basis.”
Born in 1937 in Stuttgart, Pfeiffer emigrated to the United States in 1961 and found work as a designer and art director. In 1969, he was appointed as professor and director of the Adlib Press at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, where he worked until his recent retirement.
Pfeiffer sent us the following notes on Liber Mobile:
“The seeds for making Liber Mobile were planted in the early- and mid-sixties, at a time when Marshal MacLuhan was spreading the gospel of the global village and the end of the typographic man. It was also the time when the computer posted a first serious challenge to the traditional ways of communicating, and copiers became more sophisticated and widely available. In this environment I wanted to create a book, which on one hand used traditional means of putting images on paper, such as letterpress, but at the same time was experimental, interactive and projecting possible ideas for a future direction of the book.
The Pratt Adlib Press began as an experiment to produce handmade books by students in the Department of Graphic Arts & Illustration at Pratt Institute [Brooklyn, New York] in the mid 1950's. By the early 1960's the Adlib Press had grown into a full fledged publishing venture of limited edition artist books, with a full time printer and editor, and several faculty members participating in the activities of the press. Due to internal curriculum changes as well as financial limitations the Pratt Adlib Press stopped publishing in 1975. The Adlib Press is continuing in the form of the Art of the Book program at Pratt, which does publish some titles on an irregular basis.”
DescriptionOriginal prints: 12 double-page typographical designs letter press printed in black and in colors, plus 1 smaller typographical design printed on white wove paper and mounted on the cover.
Text: letterpress in colors (typeface: "Standard light with Walbaum").
Paper: cream wove Curtis Colphon Text (100 lb.).
Text: letterpress in colors (typeface: "Standard light with Walbaum").
Paper: cream wove Curtis Colphon Text (100 lb.).
Not on view
In Collection(s)