The Pantechnicon (Signed first edition)

Signed with drawing by Lionel Miskin to art critic Roger Cardinal

Author

Lionel Miskin, dustwrapper design by the author

Publisher

Weidenfeld & Nicolson, London, 1969

Printing Details

First edition, first printing. Hardback in dustwrapper. 22 × 14cm, 168pp.

This copy from the library of art historian Roger Cardinal who originated the phrase 'Outsider Art'. Lionel Miskin has drawn a rather wonderful reclining figure holding a flower to the front pastedown and ffep, and has handwritten "for Roger and his psychotic visit to Falmouth 15 June 73, Lionel" along the curves of the body.

Artist Lionel Miskin's first (and only) novel. It is about perception; its nature, its limits and its embodiment in the two arts of painting and writing. 'Eyes,' says Mr Miskin, who speaks on these topics unabashedly ex cathedra, 'are notorious deceivers. They see what they already know, that which they have seen before and noted down in their visual cabinet of memories.' Furthermore: 'The mind of Jules [the driver of the pantechnicon], like all minds, was an obsessional machine.'

Condition

The book is in very good condition. The dustwrapper has a little edgewear and one small nick to the top of the rear panel but remains in otherwise very good condition.