From time to time The Prairie Avenue Bookshop acquires partial sets of the original stone lithographs from Frank Lloyd Wright's Wasmuth portfolio published in Germany in 1910. They are suitable for framing and are for sale individually. There were 100 plates, 64 on heavy stock and the remainder tissue overlays attached to the top of the companion plate. Those with a tissue generally consisted of an elevation on the heavy stock, and a plan on the overlay. If there was no accompanying tissue, the plate was usually a vertical composition with the plan worked into the bottom of the drawing. Of course there many variations, and the Hardy House had two overlays. Lloyd Wright saw the plates destroyed, and it is generally believed that there were about 1000 sets made.

Many of the sets were destroyed in the fire at Taliesin. There were overruns on several of the plates, but in turn some are extremely rare. We are offering lithos from broken sets that were assembled by students at Taliesin. They all have the original embossed square.

For identification we suggest that you consult either the Dover paperback "Drawings and Plans of Frank Lloyd Wright: The Early Period (1893-1909)", or the Rizzoli hardback "Studies and Executed Buildings of Frank Lloyd Wright."

The plates are generally printed on heavy grey or tan stock in a grey or brown ink although some are in gold and one is blue ink. Several of the most elegant have an ivory-white wash added with a second impression, usually on the flat surfaces. All of the colors are so subtle that the grey and tan papers and inks can be exhibited together without undue contrast.

These are very significant works of art being from what Mies van der Rohe called "the most important book of the century." We know that you will enjoy them. The perspectives are elegant, the plans superb, and in groups of two, four or more, are a splendid reminder of the early modern movement in architecture.

Prices for individual prints range from $250 to $2000. Please call toll-free at 1-800-474-2724 and we will describe the subject and condition of each plate in detail.