BABYCAKES WITH WEIGHTS

[New York]: [Multiples, Inc.], 1970. First printing. Fine.. First edition of Ruscha's eleventh book, featuring one bespoke baby (his own) and many mass-produced commercial cakes. BABYCAKES was originally issued by Goodman's imprint as part of the boxed portfolio set Artists and Photographs, with a catalogue and works by 18 other contemporary artists (Sol LeWitt, Bruce Nauman, Robert Rauschenberg, Andy Warhol, and others). Despite the cover's uncharacteristic soft pastels and textures, the book's photographs are in black and white, as austere as frosted cakes ever are. The pictured baby, at a stated 15 lbs 8 oz, weighs double the largest cake shown, or approximately 70 Hostess cinnamon rolls. Photographs by Elizabeth Claman, Sid Felson, Jerry McMillan, Danna Ruscha, and Ed Ruscha. 7.25'' x 6''. Original robin's-egg blue wrappers with pink satin ribbon tie and green flocked lettering. Black and white photographic illustrations. [52] pages. Ribbon frayed at one end, very slight wear to corners. Else bright and sharp.