UNIQUE INSCRIBED COPY

Mostel, Zero (1915–1977)

Zero By Mostel [Signed Limited Edition #2 with Association Inscription]

New York: Horizon Press, 1965.

A TOWERING ASSOCIATION COPY OF ZERO MOSTEL'S VISUAL AND VERBAL SELF-PORTRAIT, INSCRIBED TO THE MAN WHO PUBLISHED IT.
This copy, number 2 of only 250, captures the raw, kinetic energy of Mostel through Max Waldman’s photography and Mostel’s own idiosyncratic drawings. The deeply personal inscription to Ben Raeburn—the 'oldest flame' in Mostel’s life—transforms this from a standard limited edition into a primary archival artifact of the Horizon Press legacy.

KEY FEATURES
+++ Visuals: Lavishly illustrated with high-contrast photographs by Max Waldman and original drawings by Zero Mostel. 
+++ Binding: Full cloth with gilt-stamped spine; housed in the original coordinate slipcase. 
+++ Imprint: Horizon Press, New York, 1965. 
+++ Specs: 11.5 inches tall (4to); unpaginated. 
+++ Provenance: From the estate of Horizon Press publisher Ben Raeburn. 

LIMITATION & SIGNATURES
+++ Number 2 of 250 numbered copies, signed by Zero Mostel on the limitation page.
+++ Association Inscription: Inscribed in a different ink by Mostel to his publisher: 'To Ben Raeburn / The oldest flame in my life – with / my love and esteem – whatever that / means. – Regards to Pearl & Ricky too. / Zero Mostel'. Note: 'Pearl' refers to Ben’s wife, Pearl Raeburn, and 'Ricky' likely refers to their son.

CONDITION: Near Fine.
+++ The Book: The bindings are tight and square. The internal text is clean and free of markings, displaying only light, even age-toning. The spine shows light, uniform sun-darkening, common to this cloth.
+++ The Slipcase: The original slipcase is present and structurally sound, showing only minor shelf handling wear.

SCHOLARLY FEATURES
+++ Artistic Merit: Max Waldman’s photography captures Mostel not just as a performer, but as a physical sculpture of emotion, documenting the 'Theater of the Body' that made Mostel a mid-century icon.
+++ Design: Reflects Ben Raeburn’s commitment to 'Total Book Design,' prioritizing the tactile relationship between the unvarnished cloth and the heavy, art-grade paper stock.
+++ Scholarship: Serves as a primary document of Mostel’s polymathic nature, proving that his artistic output was as vital as his stage presence in 'Fiddler on the Roof' or 'Ulysses in Nighttown'.

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE —
Zero Mostel was more than a comedic force; he was a blacklisted artist who resurrected his career to become a pillar of the American stage. His relationship with Ben Raeburn and Horizon Press was foundational, as Raeburn provided a sophisticated literary platform for Mostel’s graphic and prose experiments.

This volume is a landmark of 1960s independent publishing. Horizon Press, under Raeburn, was a sanctuary for high-level modernism, and this collaboration between Mostel and Waldman represents the press at its most avant-garde.

ASSOCIATION COPY
This is a definitive Association Copy. As copy #2—likely the first copy Mostel presented to his publisher—it documents the intimate bond between artist and editor. The mention of 'Pearl & Ricky' (Raeburn’s family) in the inscription underscores a decades-long personal friendship that transcended the professional contract.

SUBJECTS: Zero Mostel, Max Waldman, Horizon Press, Photography, Performing Arts, Jewish-American Artists, Association Copy, Signed Limited Edition, Art Monograph

Item #21901

Price: $650.00