Dueling definitions:
“An artist’s book is a medium of artistic expression that uses the form or function of “book” as inspiration. It is the artistic initiative seen in the illustration, choice of materials, creation process, layout and design that makes it an art object.” --Anne Evenhaugen, What is an artist’s book? (Unbound (Smithsonian), June 1, 2012).
“Artists' books (or book arts or book objects) are works of art that utilize the form of the book. They are often published in small editions, though they are sometimes produced as one-of-a-kind objects.”--Wikipedia, accessed November 30, 2021.
“The field of artists’ books includes work that spans the full spectrum of cultural objects, handmade originals, calligraphic and typographic experimentation, conceptual productions, and works produced in the traditions of fine printing and independent publishing.”--Rare Books School, accessed November 30, 2021.
Also:
“Even how to properly punctuate the term is disputed: whether ‘artist’s book,' ‘artists' book’ or ‘artist book.’”--Anne Evenhaugen, What is an artist’s book? (Unbound (Smithsonian), June 1, 2012).
Useful notes & suggestions:
500 Artefactual details
500 Leaves bound together with brass wire.
500 Printed on double leaves; sewn to boards
500 In slipcase.
500 Number in/of edition
e.g.:
500 “Limited edition of 50 copies, signed by artist.”–Colophon.
Number our library owns:
590 Utah State University Library has number #
590 Library has copy 26.
Possible s.h./genre terms:
650 0 Letterpress printing #z United States #x Specimens.
650 0 Paper, Handmade #z United States #x Specimens.
650 0 Fine bindings #z United States #x Specimens.
655 7 Broadsides #y 20th century. #2 rbgenr
650 0 Toy and movable books #x Specimens.
Private press or Artists’ book?
Artists books are produced by artists and intended as visual art objects.
Small press are put out by a small press and finely produced (handmade paper, etc.) with runs of less than 500.
Private press is a guy in a garage.
Privately printed is something printed for an individual (older rare books, in SCA, not usually 20th century).
655 7 Artists’ books #y 20th century. #2 rbgenr
655 7 Private press books (Publishing) #z United States #y 20th century. #2 rbpub
655 7 Fine press printing. #2 local
Selective resources:
Opening Artists' Books to the User: an example with potential approaches / Ann K.D. Myers and William Andrews Myers, 2014.
Artists' books : a cataloguers' manual / by Maria White, Patrick Perratt and Liz Lawes ; on behalf of ARLIS/UK & Ireland Cataloguing and Classification Committee.
London : ARLIS/UK and Ireland, 2006/reprinted 2012.
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