Five Rare Books for Collectors: Hip-Hop

Highlights from Sotheby's third annual Hip Hop sale, timed to coincide with its 50th anniversary, include:

* Eric Orr, signed original studies for Rappin’ Max Robot, the first Hip Hop comic book, 1984 & 1985 (estimate $2,000 - 3,000).

In 1986, Bronx artist Eric Orr published his comic book Rappin’ Max Robot, a comic for and about the hip-hop community widely acknowledged today as the first hip-hop comic book.

* Kaves, Rock the Bells original piecebook page, ca. 1985 (estimate: $2,500 - 3,500). The present lot is an original piece book page from the archives of iconic graffiti writer and fine artist Kaves, circa 1985.

Piecebooks - also known 'black books' - were a fundamental tool in the art practice of graffiti writers during Hip Hop's golden age. In their piecebooks, writers would practice lettering and draft plans for upcoming works. Piecebooks would also be used to collect the tags of fellow writers and occasionally, would even be traded amongst the community. This piecebook page, Rock the Bells, is a young Kaves' interpretation of the third single from LL Cool J's 1985 debut Radio that peaked at #17 on the Billboard charts, perfectly capturing the way piecebooks were used by graffiti writers as living documents, archiving their experiences and interests in real time.

* Collection of 7 Hip Hop flyers made to promote performances by various DJs, ca. 1978-79 (estimate $2,500 - 3,500).

Hip Hop flyers such as these are some of the best primary sources for documenting the nascent Hip Hop movement. Packed with information, they record early fashion, the party scene, and give the ability to trace the early evolution the careers of numerous DJs and artists. Because they were only intended for short time use, very few have survived intact.