Learning to Read (The Word) - -Lithograph, 1965.

Edition 40. Signed, titled and annotated 28/40 2nd Ed. in pencil.

Image size 14 x 18 inches (355 x 457 mm); sheet size 19 1/2 x 25 3/4 inches (495 x 654 mm).

A fine impression, on BFK Rives, off-white wove paper; the full sheet with wide margins (1 3/4 to 4 1/2 inches), in excellent condition. An impression from the second edition.

Literature: A Life on Paper: The Drawings and Lithographs of John Thomas Biggers, Olive Jensen Theisen, University of North Texas Press, Denton, Texas, 1984, fig. 50, p. 67.

SOLD

Family of Fire- -Color Lithograph, 1986.

Edition 50 (titled Black Family). Signed, titled, dated, and annotated Artist’s Proof in pencil.

Image size 20 3/4 x 26 inches (527 x 660 mm); sheet size 27 x 31 13/16 inches (686 x 808 mm).

A superb, richly-inked impression, with fresh colors, on cream wove paper; the full sheet with wide margins (2 3/4 to 3 1/4 inches). Minor scattered foxing in the margins, recto, and overall verso, not affecting the image, otherwise in excellent condition.

A rare artist’s proof printed in two colors, apart from the one-color, black ink edition. Printed at Robert Blackburn's Printmaking Workshop, New York.

$12,500.

Our Grandmothers II - -Lithograph, 1994. -

Edition 60. Signed and numbered 36/60 in pencil.

Image size 22 3/16 x 16 inches (566 x 406 mm); sheet size 24 x 18 1/2 inches (609 x 470 mm).

A fine, richly-inked impression, on cream wove paper; the full sheet with margins (5/8 to 7/8 inch), in excellent condition.

Maya Angelou chose her friend the internationally acclaimed African-American printmaker John Biggers to illustrate her favorite poem Our Grandmothers published by the Limited Editions Club in an edition of 400 numbered copies. It was one of the largest-format books (17 3/4 x 22 inches) ever issued by the club. This artist-signed and numbered impression is from the edition of 60, apart from the Limited Editions Club publication.

Collections: Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; Museum of Modern Art; Nelson-Atkins Museum of Fine Art; Portland Art Museum; Southern University Museum of Art, Shreveport.

$3400.

Our Grandmothers V - -Lithograph, 1994. -

Edition 60. Signed and numbered 36/60 in pencil.

Image size 20 1/2 x 16 inches (521 x 406 mm); sheet size 24 x 18 1/8 inches (610 x 460 mm).

A fine, richly-inked impression, on cream wove paper; the full sheet with margins (1 to 1 5/8 inches), in excellent condition.

Maya Angelou chose her friend the internationally acclaimed African-American printmaker John Biggers to illustrate her favorite poem Our Grandmothers published by the Limited Editions Club in an edition of 400 numbered copies. It was one of the largest-format books (17 3/4 x 22 inches) ever issued by the club. This artist-signed and numbered impression is from the edition of 60, apart from the Limited Editions Club publication.

Collections: Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; Museum of Modern Art; Nelson-Atkins Museum of Fine Art; Portland Art Museum; Southern University Museum of Art, Shreveport.

$3400.