Frank Lloyd Wright Signed 1st Ed. "An Autobiography" Owned by Mid-Century CA Architect R. Van Buren Livingston

A first edition, first printing hardcover copy of Frank Lloyd Wright (1867-1959), "An Autobiography - Frank Lloyd Wright" (London: Longmans, Green & Company, 1932), signed by Wright on the front loose endpaper as "Frank Lloyd Wright." Stated first edition on the copyright page. Co-signed by book owner and fellow architect Raphael Van Buren Livingston (1901- ca. 1988), as "R Van Buren Livingston, Architect" on the front pastedown endpaper. Complete with a bold, stylized front cover in black, gold, and red. Missing its dust jacket, but with a black clamshell case. The case shows peeling, fraying, edge rubbing to the bottom edges and head band, and is missing its spine, else good. The book binding may be reinforced and is partly detached with a fragile spine. Mounting traces from a removed ex-libris label are found on the front pastedown endpaper. Else near fine and a crisp, clean copy. 371pp plus numerous illustrations. The book within the case measures 7.5" x 9.5" x 1.75."

A first edition, first printing signed Wright autobiography is currently listed on Biblio.com for $2,750, while sellers on AbeBooks are asking for $3,250 for a first edition, second printing signed copy of the same text.

Frank Lloyd Wright's autobiography explored his early life and career up through 1932. In it, Wright described designing and completing major architectural projects, such as the Larkin Building, Unity Temple, Taliesin, Midway Gardens, the Imperial Hotel, and Hollyhock House, but also expounded on the aesthetic ideals that inspired his works. In subheadings "Simplicity," "A Cultural Ideal," "Plasticity," and "The Nature of Materials," for example, Wright argued that minimalism should define "architecture in the machine age" (p. 146.)

This copy of Wright's autobiography was personally owned by Raphael Van Buren Livingston, a mid-century architect active in California. (Livingston is listed in the American Institute of Architects' directories in 1956, 1962, and 1970.) According to the AIA directory, Livingston received his undergraduate degree in Architecture from the University of Southern California in 1925, and served as a draftsman, job captain, and name partner of his own architectural firm. He designed churches, clubs, and schools, as well as private homes. Livingston's open concept plan for the Brittain-Wachs Residence in Lakewood, California--a 4,300-square-foot home featuring floor-to-ceiling windows, birch paneling, asphalt tile flooring, and custom built-ins, commissioned in 1948--recently came to market, listed at $1.68 million; it sold in February 2020. Livingston's style seems heavily influenced by Wright's aesthetics.

Frank Lloyd Wright created over 1000 architectural plans over his 70-year-long career, of which more than half were constructed. Wright's pioneering design approach incorporated function, aesthetics, and the environment, and fundamentally changed late 19th and early 20th-century architecture. In addition to architectural design, Wright wrote many books, served as a mentor, and also designed furniture and decorative arts.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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