The New Version and Abstract of an Artist: László Moholy-Nagy Robert Motherwell, Wittenborn, New York, USA, 1946. 96 pages, Softcover. Cover design and typography by Paul Rand. First edition with letter-pressed wrappers. Provenance: Modernism 101, Baton Rouge. A superb copy of a rare and fragile title.—JZ
Vision in Motion László Moholy-Nagy, Paul Theobald, Chicago, USA, 1947. 376 pages, Hardcover. Design and typography by the author. First edition. Missing dust jacket. Strictly a well-loved reference copy, with overall heavy wear, damages to the binding, ancient tape repairs to the inside back cover, with mid-century stamps of bookseller and owner.
Josef & Anni Albers: Paintings, Tapestries & Woven Textiles, Wadsworth Atheneum, Hartford, CT, USA, 1953. Exhibition pamphlet. Provenance: Modernism 101, Baton Rouge.
Anni Albers: On Designing, Wesleyan University Press, Middletown, CT, USA, 1976. 82 pages, Softcover. Second paperback printing of the 1959 publication. Provenance: Collection of Michael and Gabrielle Boyd. Introduction by Edgar Kaufmann, Jr. Typography by Sybil Wilson. Influential collection of essays by Albers which were previously included in publications by MoMA, Craft Horizons, etc.—JZ Some discolorations and spotting to the pages. Minor yellowing and spotting to the covers.
Albers Werner Spies, Harry Abrams, New York, USA, 1970. 80 pages, Hardcover with dustjacket. The classic takedown of the International Style by the famed satirical essayist.—JZ Very good condition, dust jacket with small tears to the front and spine.
From Bauhaus to Our House Tom Wolfe, Farrar Straus Giroux, New York, USA, 1981. 143 pages, Hardcover with dustjacket.
From Bauhaus to Aspen: Herbert Bayer and Modernist Design in America Gwen F Chanzit, Denver Art Museum, USA, 2005. 272 pages, Softcover. Second edition of the 1987 publication, with new introduction by Daniel Libeskind.
New Bauhaus in Chicago Peter Hahn, Bauhaus, Archiv Argon, Berlin, Germany, 1988. 286 pages, Hardcover with dustjacket. German and English text.
Knoll Celebrates 75 Years of Bauhaus Design, 1919-1994, Knoll Group, 1994. 100 pages, Softcover. This snazzy catalogue with aluminum nuts and bolts binding illustrates mostly Postmodern designs by a who’s who of 1990s European and American architects in homage to Bauhaus originals.—JZ
La Bauhaus y el Mexico moderno: El diseño de Van Beuren Ana Mallet, Arquine, Mexico City, 2014. 100 pages. First edition with Spanish text. Introduction by Barry Bergdoll. Already rare. Important monograph on Michael Van Beuren, the American-born designer who studied architecture at the Bauhaus with Mies and Albers, then moved to Mexico, where he teamed up with Klaus Grabe and won a prize in MoMA’s Organic Design for Home Furnishings exhibition.—JZ
At the intersection of scholarship and connoisseurship lies Curated: The Design and Library of James Zemaitis—an offering that reflects a career spent exploring, documenting, and shaping the discourse around modern and contemporary design. This carefully assembled selection includes both a compelling group of design works and a rich library of publications that have guided and inspired James Zemaitis throughout his decades in the field.
As Director of Museum Relations at R & Company since 2016, James has played a central role in developing exhibitions and fostering institutional partnerships. His recent curatorial projects, including Born Too Tall: California Women Designers, Postwar to Postmodern, demonstrate a thoughtful and inclusive approach to design history. Prior to his time at R & Company, James held leadership positions at Sotheby’s and Phillips, producing over fifty design sales and helping shape the trajectory of the postwar and contemporary design market.
This collection reflects James’s deep engagement with the material and intellectual history of design. The included library—rich with foundational texts, rare catalogues, and scholarly references—provides a rare window into the ideas and research that have underpinned his work as a curator, advisor, and educator.
This auction brings together design and scholarship in a way that reflects a lifetime of passion and purpose. We are honored to invite collectors, curators, and enthusiasts alike to discover a collection shaped by insight, research, and enduring care.
