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EXPERIMENTING WITH HUMAN LIVES
Date: 1923
Title: Experimenting With Human Lives. The Fine Art Society, Olive Hill, Hollywood, California. (Soft Cover) (Published by Ralph Fletcher Seymour, Chicago. The pages are folded Japanese style and printed in red and black. A strip of cloth, 7" x 1/2" is stapled on the front and back, then glued into a stiff paper cover that wraps around the booklet and forms a folder.)
Author: Wright, Frank Lloyd
Description: This undated pamphlet was written after the 1923 earthquake in Japan. "The rim of the Pacific basin is no place to experiment with human lives in the interests of an architectural expedient. Los Angeles, San Francisco, Tokio (sic), all on the rim of this great basin, are infested by that expedient. That expedient is the tall steel frame building we call the skyscraper, and it has no better scientific, aesthetic or moral basis for existence as a bid for human sacrifice then the greed of the speculative landlord, the unworthy ambition of commercialized architects, or false civic pride that encourages and protects both. This great basin of the Pacific is overloaded, – overloaded with gigantic waters. Occasionally, as faults and fissures occur in its floor owing to the strains of this overload, water rushes down with enormous pressure to internal fires – creating steam and gases of incalculable power, seeking escape through other internal crevices leading to the upper air and convulse and alter the confirmation of the earth-crust in doing so..." Frank Lloyd Wright.
Ralph Fletcher Seymour wrote: "Frank Wright went to Japan and built the Imperial Hotel. An earthquake which shattered much of Tokyo left his building uninjured. He consider this to be a justification for his architectural principles and practices and wrote a little monograph to that effect, which I also printed for him..." (p.114) Seymour continued, "There is also a square shaped, thin paper pamphlet, printed in red and black, on pages 1.4.5.8.9, etc. written by Wright on the topic ‘Experimenting With Human Lives.’ The Fine Arts Society, Olive Hill, Hollywood, California are the alleged publishers. It contains an interesting treatise on the direction of edifices, anywhere, in such a way that they will remain standing, but points out that they should be built in accordance with such sound principles of construction as the author, Frank Lloyd Wright used in his various enterprises and, in particular, in the direction of his famous hotel in Tokyo, which almost alone of the many fine edifices withstood the force of the Tokyo earthquake. He writes that "the solution of all great problem is a simple - that is to say, an organic matter of putting the right thing in the right way in the right place. And because it is simple it is difficult and because it is difficult it is rare." "Some Went This Way," Seymour, 1945, p.125-126.
Robert C. Twombly wrote: "Wright returned to Japan for the last time in November 1922... When the Imperial (Hotel) survived the worst earthquake in Japanese memory, just as Wright said it would, he became something of an international celebrity. Taking advantage of his notoriety, he wrote Experimenting With Human Lives, a pamphlet for the Los Angeles Fine Arts Society... explaining the hotels construction principles. "Frank Lloyd Wright His Life and His Architecture" Twombly, 1979, p.182.
Katherine Smith wrote: "It was at this time (1923) that the Fine Art Society was formed on Olive Hill. One of its goals was to produce ‘artistic literature’ to distribute throughout the world. Its only known publication was authored by Frank Lloyd Wright, "Experimenting With Human Lives," a pamphlet condemning skyscraper construction in the earthquake-prone Pacific basin which links Tokyo and Los Angeles. This essay seems to be the beginning of Wright's philosophy on low density development which culminate in his writing on Broadacre City." JSAH, Smith, March 1979, p.31, Note 44. Two copies. First copy acquired from the estate of Wilbert and Marilyn Hasbrouck. (First Edition) (Sweeney 149)
Size: 7.3 x 6.75
Pages: Pp 12
S#: 0149.00.1217, 0149.00.1022THE DISAPPEARING CITY Date: 1932 The Disappearing City DJ Publication: The Disappearing City (Published by William Farquhar Payson, New York) (Hard Cover DJ)
Author: Wright, Frank Lloyd
Description: The Disappearing City was rewritten in 1945 and published as "When Democracy Builds." It was rewritten again in 1958 as “The Living City”. In 1969 Horizon Press published a new boxed version with Wright's hand written revisions titled "The Industrial Revolution Runs Away." (First Edition) (Sweeney 328) For more information see our Wright Study on The Disappearing City.
Pages: 90
S#: 0328.00.0405Date: 1932 The Disappearing City Publication: The Disappearing City (Published by William Farquhar Payson, New York) (Hard Cover)
Author: Wright, Frank Lloyd
Description: This copy matches the copy with a DJ. It has a small label that is glued to the cover. Second copy. (First Edition) (Sweeney 328) For more information see our Wright Study on The Disappearing City.
Size:
Pages: 90
S#: 0328.01.0303Date: 1932 The Disappearing City (Possible Popular Edition) Publication: The Disappearing City (Possible Popular Edition) (Published by William Farquhar Payson, New York) (Hard Cover)
Author: Wright, Frank Lloyd
Description: Sweeney indicates that a popular edition of the book was published. The only difference between the two copies is the cover. Cover A was produced by Payson. Blue cloth boards with a small label on the front board. The label is a smaller version of the illustration on dust jacket. There is no text on either the front or spine. The two-color dust jacket designed by Wright covered the front and back. It included the publisher's name, William Farquhar Payson, on the far right. The paper label affixed to the cloth cover lacked the publisher's name and was reduced to one color, black. Wright supplied the text for the front and back flaps. Cover B was possibly produced by Wright. When Wright acquired the unsold copies of "The Disappearing City", it included 1,000 sewed sheets (books without covers), 1,000 dust jackets as well as a full set of electros cuts, bindings and dyes. There is no indication as to why the binding was changed for the remaining 1,000 sewed sheets. If it was Wright who produced the green covers, faced with a debt of $650, the choice would have come down to cost. He used only the black plate, removed Payson's name and printed the ink on green cloth boards. This copy is printed, black ink on green cloth cover. Third copy. Plate 6, p.82a, is a 1930 portrait of Frank Lloyd Wright. (First Edition) (Sweeney 328) For more information see our Wright Study on The Disappearing City.
Pages: Pp 90
S#: 0328.02.0402, 0328.03.0819
WHEN DEMOCRACY BUILDS/strong>
Date: 1945 First Edition Publication: When Democracy Builds (Hard Cover - DJ) (Published by the University of Chicago Press, Chicago)
Author: Wright, Frank Lloyd
Description: In 1932 Wright published his classic indictment on the city as “The Disappearing City”. Wright continued to work on his thesis and in 1945 republished it as "When Democracy Builds". Copyright 1945 by the University of Chicago. Published 1945. In 1958 he published his third and final version, “The Living City” expanding and rewriting it completely. Book review in Saturday Review. Original HC List Price $4.00. (First Edition) (Sweeney 609)
Size:
Pages: 131
0609.00.1099
Date: 1945 Third Impression Publication: When Democracy Builds (Hard Cover) (Published by the University of Chicago Press, Chicago)
Author: Wright, Frank Lloyd
Description: Copyright 1945 by the University of Chicago. Published 1945. Third Impression September 1945. (Third Edition) (Sweeney 609)
Size:
Pages: 131
0609.02.0403
Date: 1947 Second Impression Publication: When Democracy Builds (Hard Cover) (Published by the University of Chicago Press, Chicago)
Author: Wright, Frank Lloyd
Description: Revised Edition. Copyright 1945 by the University of Chicago. Published 1945. Second Edition 1945. Second Impression 1947. (Second Edition) (Sweeney 609)
Pages: 140
0609.01.0799
Date: 1950 Title: Usonien: When Democracy Builds (Hard Cover DJ) (Published by Verlag Gebr. Mann, Berlin)
Author: Wright, Frank Lloyd
Description: In 1932 Wright published his classic indictment on the city as "The Disappearing City". Wright continued to work on his thesis and in 1945 republished it as "When Democracy Builds". Copyright 1945 by the University of Chicago. Published 1945. This volume was published in Germany from the revised edition published in 1947 by University of Chicago. It includes the additional "Note" by Wright dated September 17, 1945. Published in German with an English translation. Includes 11 plates originally published in 1945. Two copies, with and without dust jacket. (First Edition) (Sweeney 800)
Size: 7.5 x 10
Pages: Pp 166 +Plates
S#: 0800.00.1212, 0800.01.0520
Date: 1995
Title: Usonien: When Democracy Builds (Hard Cover) (Published by Verlag Gebr. Mann, Berlin)
Author: Wright, Frank Lloyd
Description: First published in the U.S. in 1945. First published in German in 1950. This edition appears to be a reprint, using the original 1950 German/English plates, and also includes an additional section, "Nachwort Von Bernd Nicolai (Epilogue from Bernd Nicolai) pages 167-171. In 1932 Wright published his classic indictment on the city as "The Disappearing City". Wright continued to work on his thesis and in 1945 republished it as "When Democracy Builds". Copyright 1945 by the University of Chicago. Published 1945. This volume was published in Germany from the revised edition published in 1947 by University of Chicago. It includes the additional "Note" by Wright dated September 17, 1945. Published in German with an English translation. Includes 11 plates originally published in 1945. (First Edition) (Sweeney 800)
Size: 6.7 x 9.6
Pages: Pp 170 +Plates
S#: 0800.01.1217
THE LIVING CITY Date: 1958
Title: The Living City (Published by Horizon Press, New York) (Hard Cover DJ) (Red Letter - Which appears to be First Edition)
Author: Wright, Frank Lloyd
Description: In 1930 Wright gave his renowned lecture on The City at Princeton University. In 1932 he published his now classic indictment as "The Disappearing City". Wright continued to work on his thesis and in 1945 republished it as "When Democracy Builds". With this third and final version, "The Living City" he expanded and rewrote it completely. He poured all his ideas up to the present. Before the title page there is a quote by Paracelsus, printed in red. The last two un-numbered pages, the Appendix is from Ralph Waldo Emerson’s Essay on Farming, also printed in red. In 1969 Horizon Press published a new boxed version of "The Disappearing City", with Wright's hand written revisions titled "The Industrial Revolution Runs Away". Includes 57 photographs and illustrations, and a foldout (28.75 x 18.25) of Broadacre City in full color. Original list price $7.50. (First Edition) (Sweeney 1218)
Size: 8.25 x 10.25.
Pages: Pp 224
S#: 1218.00,1116Date: 1958 The Living City, Part of Boxed Set Publication: The Living City (Published by Horizon Press, New York) (Hard Cover DJ, Boxed) (Red Letter - Which I believe to be the First Edition)
Author: Wright, Frank Lloyd
Description: Boxed set of three which also includes “The Natural House” and “The Future of Architecture”. Red letter version and “220 West 42nd Street” address on dust jacket. Original list price $7.50. (First Edition) (Sweeney 1218)
Size: 8.25 x 10.25
Pages: 224
1218.01.0107
The Living City Boxed Set Cover Date: 1958 Horizon Press Red Letter Version Publication: The Living City (Published by Horizon Press, New York) (Hard Cover)
Author: Wright, Frank Lloyd
Description: Red Letter Version. This is an exact copy, except that the very first page, a quote by Paracelsus in in Red. The title page had a red square and then the last two pages, the Appendix, from Ralph Waldo Emerson’s Essay on Farming, is in red. Other than that it is an exact copy. Also includes large 28.75 x 18.25 tipped-in foldout of Broadacre City. Original HC List Price $7.50. (Red Letter) (First Edition) (Sweeney 1218)
Size: 8.25 x 10.25
Pages: 224
1218.02.0899
Date: 1958 Horizon Press Publication: The Living City (Published by Horizon Press, New York) (Hard Cover)
Author: Wright, Frank Lloyd
Description: In 1930 Wright gave his renowned lecture on The City at Princeton University. In 1932 he published his now classic indictment on the city as “The Disappearing City”. Wright continued to work on his thesis and in 1945 republished it as "When Democracy Builds". With this third and final version, “The Living City” he expanded and rewrote it completely. He poured all his ideas up to the present. It includes 57 photographs and illustrations, and a foldout (28.75 x 18.25) of Broadacre City in full color. In 1969 Horizon Press published a new boxed version of “The Disappearing City”, with Wright's hand written revisions titled “The Industrial Revolution Runs Away”. Also includes large 28.75 x 18.25 tipped-in foldout of Broadacre City. Original HC List Price $7.50. (First Edition) (Sweeney 1218)
Size: 8.25 x 10.25
Pages: 224
1218.03.0799
Date: 1958 Bramhall House Publication: The Living City (Published by Bramhall House, New York, a division of Clarkson N. Potter, Inc.) (Hard Cover DJ)
Author: Wright, Frank Lloyd
Description: This version is undated, but does not seem to have any other changes to it. Also includes large 28.75 x 18.25 tipped-in foldout of Broadacre City. (First Edition) (Sweeney 1218)
Size: 8.25 x 10.25
Pages: 224
1218.04.1106
Date: 1963
Title: The Living City (Soft Cover) (Mentor Books are published in the United States by the New American Library of World Literature, Inc., New York.)
Author: Wright, Frank Lloyd
Description: First Mentor Books edition. Copyright 1958 by Horizon Press Inc. "A master architect of the twentieth century unfolds his revolutionary idea for a city of the future, a brilliant solution to the ills of urbanization whereby man can attain dignity in his home, his work, his community. Broadacre City is a decentralized community in which the distinction between country and city is obliterated. It is a vast design of dwellings – prefabricated cottage apartment-office building, home for sloping ground, luxury home, school and theater..." Chicago Sunday Tribune. (Page I.) (First Edition) (Sweeney 1218)
Size: 4.25 x 7
Pages: Pp 255
S#: 1218.05.0617Date: 1968
Title: The Living City (Hard Cover Slip Case) (Published by Shokokusha, Tokyo,. Translated by Masami and Yoshiko Tanigawa.)
Author: Wright, Frank Lloyd
Description: Japanese Edition. In 1930 Wright gave his renowned lecture on The City at Princeton University. In 1932 he published his now classic indictment as "The Disappearing City". Wright continued to work on his thesis and in 1945 republished it as "When Democracy Builds". With this third and final version, "The Living City" he expanded and rewrote it completely. This edition is a translation of the third and final version. Inscribed: "To Mr. & Mrs. W. R. Hasbrouck. (From) Masami Tanigawa." Acquired from the estate of Wilbert and Marilyn Hasbrouck. Original cover price Y1400. (First Edition) (Sweeney 1218)
Size: 6.25 x 8.75
Pages: Pp 295
S#: 1218.06.1017
Left: Front of Slip Case
Right: Back of Slip Case
THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION RUNS AWAY Date: 1969 Box Slipcase Publication: The Industrial Revolution Runs Away (Hard Cover - Boxed Slipcase) (Published by Horizon Press, New York)
Author: Wright, Frank Lloyd
Description: In 1932 Wright published his now classic indictment on the city as “The Disappearing City”. Wright continued to work on his thesis and in 1945 republished it as "When Democracy Builds". In 1958 he published his third and final version, “The Living City” which he expanded and rewrote completely. In 1969 Horizon Press published a new boxed version of “The Disappearing City”, with Wright's hand written revisions titled “The Industrial Revolution Runs Away”. It is a facsimile of the original edition reproducing each page as subsequently revised and written in Wright's own hand. This edition also includes facing pages presenting the new text complete with the revisions. Three Copies, one with the slipcase and one without. The third copy includes slip cover, but end page and the page numbering the copy has been removed. (#91A & #266 - This edition is limited to 1,250 numbered copies of which 250 are not for sale.) (First Edition) (Sweeney 1775)
Size: 10.5 x 13.75
Pages: Pp 187
1775.00.0600, 1775.03.1102, 1775.06.0919
1969 Hard Cover
Date: 1969 Publisher's Proof Publication: The Industrial Revolution Runs Away (Hard Cover - Boxed Slipcover) (Published by Horizontal Press, New York)
Author: Wright, Frank Lloyd
Description: In 1932 Wright published his now classic indictment on the city as “The Disappearing City”. Wright continued to work on his thesis and in 1945 republished it as "When Democracy Builds". In 1958 he published his third and final version, “The Living City” which he expanded and rewrote completely. Wright has now gone back to the original. This edition includes a facsimile of the author's copy of the original 1932 edition of The Disappearing City as revised in his hand and contains the new text complete with his revisions on facing pages. This copy is a "For Review" galley copy. It has the same slipcase as the hard copy edition, but is loose - unbound, and in twelve separate sections of complete contents, 187 pages, and includes a Portrait. This copy is not numbered, but hand written in its place "For Review". This edition is limited to 1,250 numbered copies of which 250 are not for sale. Original list price $40.00. (First Edition) (Sweeney 1775)
Pages: 187
Size: 10.5 x 13.75
1775.04.1210
Date: 1969 Publication: The Industrial Revolution Runs Away - News Release (Published by Horizontal Press, New York)
Author: Horizon Press
Description: Original News Release found inside slipcase. "For Immediate Release. A Rare Facsimile and New Text by Frank Lloyd Wright. The Horizon Press double edition of The Industrial Revolution Runs Away/The Disappearing City comprises one of the most important documents in the work of Frank Lloyd Wright. It will be published on December 1st. The writing of The Disappearing City – first published in 1932, almost immediately thereafter out of print and long sought since – was a startling act of prophecy. Now regarded as the classic indictment of the city, it was a searing protest against the inhumanity soon bound to become unbearable in rampant urbanism... For years, Frank Lloyd Wright kept returning to the problem, with a copy of The Disappearing City at his side, making continuous handwritten revisions in it; and finally changing even the title... In this new edition, all the left-hand pages contain reproductions, page for page, of the entire original book - from the very copy in which he made his handwritten revision – and each facsimile page is then faced by the new text which includes all the revisions, complete."
Pages: 1
Size: 8.5 x 11
1775.05.1210
