Art Deco PHOBIA 1931 Signed & Numbered by JOHN VASSOS 1st Edition 82/1500 For Sale

Art Deco PHOBIA 1931 Signed & Numbered by JOHN VASSOS 1st Edition 82/1500
Rare First Edition Art Deco book titled \"PHOBIA\" by John Vassos, signed by the author and published in 1931. This first edition, limited edition book, numbered 82 out of 1500, is an illustrated hardcover with a vintage feel. The narrative type is nonfiction, and the story is aimed at young adults and adults interested in psychology and art. The book features phobias as its topic and reflects the literary movement of Expressionism during the 1930s. Vassos\' illustrations add to the appeal and uniqueness of this rare find for collectors.PHOBIA

by John Vassos

Published by Covici-Friede, New York, 1931. First Edition, limited to 1500 copies. Signed and hand-numbered (82) by John Vassos on the limitation page. Good hardcover, no dust jacket. Tight binding, solid spine, clean unmarked text, rubbing wear to edges, and corners. Folio, illustrated throughout with bold Art Deco plates by Vassos. 24 plates (23 Phobias plus frontispiece), 106 pages.

In this seminal Art Deco masterpiece, John Vassos harnesses the visual language of modernism to plunge into the depths of the human subconscious. Created at the dawn of the Great Depression, Phobia is a chillingly prescient visual anthology that gives form to the era\'s latent anxieties. The publication\'s profound impact is elevated by its exceptional typography and design, the work of master printer S. A. Jacobs at The Half Moon Press in New York. Executed via the Knudson process—a photomechanical technique prized for its exceptional fidelity to original artwork—the book achieves a perfect synthesis of text and Vassos\'s stark, geometric imagery. Each of the 24 plates is a psychological portrait, the illustration – part art nouveau, part art deco and part German expressionism – shows not only a terror but captures more generally the growing unease with the urbanism and industrialization of the early 20th century (a recurrent theme in much of Vassos’ work). The book is a landmark in American graphic art, reflecting a growing cultural fascination with Freudian psychoanalysis. This copy, bearing the significant early signature and low number 88, is an exceptionally rare artifact from the golden age of illustrated books. A pinnacle for collectors of modernist art, psychology-themed volumes, and iconic 20th-century book design.

John Vassos was a pivotal figure in American industrial design and illustration, whose work profoundly shaped the aesthetic of the Machine Age. Moving beyond his early, psychologically intense Art Deco illustrations for books, he applied his principles of sleek, geometric modernism to consumer products for RCA, designing some of the first commercially successful modern radios and television consoles. This work was instrumental in bringing a sophisticated, modernist vocabulary into the American home, bridging the gap between avant-garde art and mass-market commerce and cementing his importance as a pioneer of 20th-century design.

This was a strictly limited release. The entire first printing consisted of only 1,500 copies, all individually hand-numbered and signed by the author. This volume is Copy Number 82, making it a highly desirable early-number copy from the print run.Features Vassos’s iconic, hauntingly beautiful Art Deco breakout illustrations exploring various psychological phobias. A masterpiece of 20th-century graphic illustration and book design.Condition ReportPlease review the photos carefully to evaluate the condition for yourself.

• Dust Jacket: Not included (issued without jacket or jacket is missing).
• Cover/Boards: Original grey/black cloth boards show visible edge wear and shelf wear. The corners are noticeably bumped/worn through to the boards.
• Silver Stamping: The striking Art Deco silver foil lettering and geometric design on the front cover remain mostly bright and legible with light rubbing.
• Solid Spine
• Interior: The limitation page is in good condition, featuring a clean, bold signature from John Vassos and a crisp hand-written \"82\". Pages are otherwise intact.