Wittgenstein, Ludwig

On Certainty

San Francisco: Arion Press, 1991. Folio; diagrammed throughout in black and red; printed endpapers; illustrated gray cloth boards; embossed with dark gray and red; held in gray cloth slipcase.

$7500.00

Lettered edition.  One of 26 lettered copies, this one is J.  This one is inscribed on the second free endpaper to philosopher and art critic Arthur Danto, from Mel Bochner, with an original drawing on the following page: For Arthur Danto/with respect + friendship/Mel Bochner/18 June 1991. A major association copy, marking the literary collaboration between Danto, who wrote the introduction to this edition of On Certainty, and Bochner, who provided twelve prints.

On Certainty, a philosophical text written by Ludwig Wittgenstein, was published posthumously in 1969 from his notebooks. The series of notes contain thematic elements related to knowledge, doubt, skepticism, and certainty. Although the notes are not organized into any coherent whole, certain themes and preoccupations recur throughout.  The importance of Wittgenstein’s philosophical contributions is evident in this magnificent volume, and his writings are enhanced through the collaborative efforts of conceptual artist Mel Bochner and art critic and philosopher Arthur Danto for this unique lettered edition.