The Mystery of the Clock Explained
My Pretty Pony
Publication: New York: Library Fellows of the Whitney Museum of American Art, 1988. First Edition.
Notes: Large folio (14 by 20-1/4 inches), bound in stainless steel with a leather spine by Booklab. This deluxe edition limited to 250 numbered copies (there were 30 author's copies) is signed by both King and Kruger on the colophon. This remarkable collaboration pairs King's contemplative short story about an elderly man and his grandson with Kruger's distinctive graphic design. The narrative, described by MoMA as exploring "the grandfather's attempt to teach the boy that time moves at different speeds depending on circumstances," becomes a meditation on mortality and perception. Kruger's contribution includes nine lithographs combining halftone imagery and text plus eight text silkscreens. The fragmented captions of the lithographs collectively form the phrase "Time ain't got nothing to do with how fast you can count."
The book's most striking feature is its innovative binding in aluminum "boards" with a digital clock mounted to the front cover—a conceptual element that reinforces the story's temporal themes while creating a unique book-arts artifact. According to the publisher's care sheet, the clock was expected to function through 1990, with its eventual failure considered "a property of the book" rather than a defect.
The presence of the clock has been an enigma to this bookseller and most other collectors and dealers. That's because we've all overlooked another section of the care sheet text: "The interleaving next to the lithographs...may be removed in 1990 when the ink is fully dry." The clock is not so much a clock as a timer, designed to turn off when the ink is dry.
Each print is protected by original tissue guards. This copy comes with the surprisingly scarce double-walled clamshell box manufactured by the bookbinder to protect the stainless steel covers. The book cost $2,200 new and yet hardly anyone purchased the optional protective case for just $100 more.
Edition + Condition: First edition (first printing). A truly fine copy, protected in the optional clamshell box so that it still smells new. This copy has none of the inevitable scratching or fingerprints typically seen (this bookseller will include a pair of gloves with the book). Signed by King and Kruger on the colophon (not numbered, as issued). In a very near fine clamshell case with a red title label mounted to the spine, as issued. This copy is accompanied by the care sheet, a flyer about ordering the box, and a catalog from the binder, Booklab. The original battery has been removed from the clock to prevent corrosion but it is included with the book for completeness. Very scarce in this condition and with the impressive optional box.
Item No: #302600
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