The Collected Writings of Alvin Lustig [Limited to 600 Copies; Provenance William Segal]

The Collected Writings of Alvin Lustig edited and published by Holland R. Melson, Jr., 1958. New Haven, Connecticut, USA. 8.75 x 5.5, 94 pages. Introduction by Philip Johnson. Photographic printed cover by Maya Deren. Printed in an edition of 600 copies.

From the library of William Segal with his name “W. Segal” signed in ink on the half title page; perhaps gifted to Segal from Lustig. Segal was a prolific writer, editor, publisher and art director and his collaborations with Lustig include: his New York City apartment and much of its' furniture, his Empire State Building offices and magazines such as Gentry, Men’s Reporter and American Fabrics.

The publication of this book was made possible by a grant from the fund established by Elaine Lustig Cohen in memory of Alvin Lustig, a member of the faculty of the School of Art and Architecture at Yale University between 1951 and 1954. 

“The words graphic designer, architect, or industrial designer stick in my throat, giving me a sense of limitation, of specialization within the speciality, of a relationship to society and form itself that is unsatisfactory and incomplete. This inadequate set of terms to describe an active life reveals only partially the still undefined nature of the designer.” — Alvin Lustig

Introduction by Philip Johnson followed by twelve illuminating texts by Lustig including: Designing, A Process of Teaching; Design Program for the University of Georgia; Graphic Design; Personal Notes on Design; Contemporary Book Design; The Architectural Review. A Lesson in Typographic Vigor; Suggestions for the Development of a Quarterly Periodical, Formal Values in Trademark Design; What is a Designer?; Experimental Workshop in Graphic Design for Yale University; California Modern; and On Architecture. The last few pages include a Chronology and list of Articles about and by Lustig.

Designed by Holland Roberts Melson, Jr., in the Department of Graphic Design at Yale University. Set in Monotype Walbaum and printed on Mohawk Superfine Text by Clarke and Way at the Thistle Press in New York. The binding is by Russell-Rutter Company.

A good hardcover with light wear to the black covers, bruising to the spine head and heel, and a larger chip and tear to the lower left front cover along the spine. Bright interior pages and a tight binding. Condition noted and price adjusted; excellent provenance!