GAME FISHING, Long Island. - Edward James MATHEWS (1903-1980, author, artist and architect).

[Swordfish fishing - 'Early watch'; 'Fin Sighted'; 'Coup de Grace' or 'Forty Cents a Pound'; 'Breaching']. [No date but circa 1941], a series of four original lithographs [sheet size: 16 1/2 x 10 1/4 inches, and larger], all signed in pencil by Mathews, two also numbered in pencil: 1/100 and 4/100.Condition: see images, but with some light soiling, occasional light matt-burn, some light spotting.

[with the original periodical in which these images were first reproduced:]

[E.J. MATHEWS. "Xiphias Packs a Punch", pp. 58-59,110-111, in ] Esquire The Magazine for Men, September 1942, Campus Issue, [ Chicago: 1942]. Folio (14 x 10 inches). Plates and illustrations, including 'Vargas Girl Miss America' after Alberto Vargas, and 'Francis Gifford ... Photographed by [George] Hurrell.’ Pictorial wrappers. FIRST APPEARANCE of Mathews' article and images. Condition: some sections of text browned (as usual), corners of first two leaves torn away [see images]corners and wrappers a little dog-eared [see images], backstrip damaged, repaired tear to upper cover, lower cover almost detached.

[with:]

E.J. MATHEWS. Swordfish Text and Drawings by Edward James Mathews. Prepared for the Benefit of Guild Hall, East Hampton, New York. [... originally appeared in 'Esquire']. East Hampton: 1979. Small 4to (9 1/2 x 7 inches). Pp.[1-24]. Numerous illustrations after Mathews. Stapled into original thin card wrappers. FIRST SEPARATE EDITION of Mathews' work.

A rare collection, including four of the six original lithographs that Mathews produced to illustrate 'Swordfish fishing': both they and the article all speak to the deep knowledge and love that he evidently had of the hunt for perhaps the most exhilarating of all big game fish. Edward J. Mathews is now best known as an important American architect who worked on the Rockefeller Center, and also for the City of New York and the CIA, in addition to numerous private clients. He was a general partner in Skidmore, Owings and Merrill. The present collection may be said to illustrate the enthusiasms of his youth: the sea, lithography and big game fishing.

Overall Condition: Acceptable

Size: Various