O'Keeffe at Abiquiu by Christine Taylor Patten (1995 early printing Hardcover in Dust Jacket) 

•           Author:                           Christine Taylor Patten

•           Photographer:                Myron Wood  

•           Publisher:            Harry N. Abrams, Inc., Publishers    New York, NY      U.S.A.       1995             

Georgia O'Keeffe (1887-1986), the most famous woman artist of twentieth-century America, spent the last forty years of her life in quiet isolation in New Mexico, living in an adobe house that she had built on an old property in the village of Abiquiu (pronounced Abbey-cue).  Anyone who knows New Mexico, with its fierce light, pungent aroma of sage, and big, open skies, will understand its fascination for O'Keeffe. The landscape is direct and elemental, like her paintings; it is tough and unyielding, like her character. 

In 1979, some seven years before her death, O'Keeffe permitted Colorado photographer Myron Wood to photograph at Abiquiu and Ghost Ranch. Over the next two-and-a-half years, Wood made hundreds of photographs, of the artist herself, the people closest to her (Juan Hamilton, her manager; gardener Steven Lopez, and others), and most especially of the house, gardens, and surrounding landscape that nourished O'Keeffe so richly. 

Reproduced here are seventy-nine of Wood's photographs, in subtle duotones ranging from stark white to dense black. They do more than merely document the look of the house, they evoke the spirit of the place as O'Keeffe inhabited it. Here are the smooth shapes of the sun-bleached animal bones and river-rounded rocks that the painter loved to collect; here are the hand-rubbed adobe walls of a building that seems to grow out organically from the earth. 

 Particularly insightful is the essay by O'Keeffe's "nurse companion" C.T. Patten.  120pp. 

Prior owner documented her visit to Abiquiu (and presumed original purchase date of this book) in August 1995 on a laid-in article about the site dated in September 1995.   

Hardcover has dark brown cloth boards, silver lettering on spine in a As New Dust Jacket.  Interior is tight, well-handled, and text unmarked.   Privately owned with ownership signature on ffep, adds no value. 

• Size:  8vo – over 7¾ - 9¾” tall, oblong      120pp. 
• Condition:  Near New Hardcover in New Dust Jacket  –  Always privately owned.  Ownership signature on ffep, adds no value.  Early printing of 1^st trade Edition.   

Copyright 1995.  No edition nor print-run info found.  Printed in Japan.  ISBN: 0-8109-3680-1.  LCCN: 94-39687.  No MSR. 

Notes on Condition/Edition ratings:

Fine – means like new, but any book produced over 10 years ago isn't “brand new” or even “new.”  Using the same term as coin collectors, “can’t guarantee it is uncirculated, but it looks very much like it could be.”  Booksellers need similar grading to describe this...

Like New – A new book, no marks no damage (except maybe remainder marks or shelf-wear) except not obtained directly from the publisher or in packaging from the publisher.  Same sort of thing about grading as Fine above except generally used for newer publication dates for titles still in print. 

Good – How someone else might take care of a book. Also referred to as “standard.” This is the most likely condition for books of this age & title, shows the book has been read or previously owned.  

 Acceptable – How a young child, student or a librarian might take care of a book. (Either trying to make sure someone doesn't steal it by plastering ownership everywhere, filled it with copious notes or a book that has been damaged.)

Poor – Combination of “acceptable” factors above. Most likely with water damage as well. Might have missing pages (you should ask).  Usually requires repair to be usable. 

Near – Means “almost” in an optimistic sense. e.g., “Near Fine” means very good, but on the high end.

1st Thus – Unique somehow, maybe 1st paperback, new illustrator, misprint or even the 1st edition. A collector might desire this copy for their collection.

Thanks for looking!