THE PHOTO BOOK - Scarce Fine Copy of The First Hardcover Edition/First Printing

Editors of Phaidon Press; Various Photographers & Various Contributing Writers

ISBN 10: 0714836346 / ISBN 13: 9780714836348

Published by London, England: Phaidon Press, 1997, 1997

About this Item

1st Printing. 500 pages. Published in 1997. Massive retrospective collection of photographs, with accompanying text. One of the best introductory volumes on the practice and art of photography. The First Hardcover Edition. Precedes and should not be confused with all other subsequent editions. Published in a regular first print run as a hardcover original only that sold out shortly after publication. The First Edition is now scarce. A brilliant production by Phaidon Press: Oversize-volume format. Pictorial hard boards with titles on the cover and spine, as issued. The book weighs 10 pounds. Photographs by various contributors. They represent THE Who's Who of photographic history. Text by various contributors. Glossary of Technical Terms. Photographic History And Movements. Directory of Museums And Galleries. Printed on pristine-white, thick coated stock paper in Italy to the highest standards. Given the daunting scope of the undertaking, the reproduction quality in terms of clarity, tonal range, and warmth is exemplary. In glossy pictorial DJ with titles on the cover and spine, as issued. Presents "The Photo Book". Two words. Comprehensive, meticulous, and dazzling: 500 images, beautifully reproduced, representing some of the world's greatest photographers, and encompassing every photographic genre. "Images of famous events such as the Royal Wedding and the Moon Landing are here next to shots by Masters of photography such as Bill Brandt, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Cecil Beaton, and Robert Doisneau. There is fashion, sports, natural history, reportage, and society portraiture as well as social documentary and art. The photographers featured range from William Henry Fox Talbot and Julia Margaret Cameron to Larry Clark and Herb Ritts, from Robert Capa and Josef Koudelka to Nan Goldin and Pierre et Gilles. Arranged alphabetically by photographer, each full-page image is accompanied by an illuminating text which gives a useful insight into the work and its creator as well as extensive cross-references to others working in the same field or style" (Publisher's blurb). "The scope of this visual encyclopedia is truly epic" (Library Journal). Considering how vast and constantly-expanding the subject is, this is an impressive start indeed: Great photographs accompanied by (extremely) insightful commentary. Published almost as an afterthought to Phaidon Press' immensely successful Series that now includes "The Art Book", "The 20th-Century Art Book", and "The Movie Book", the "inclusion of iconic images and their juxtapositions raise questions central to the history of the medium, and make 'The Photo Book' perhaps the most successful of the Series" (Eric Bryant). An absolute "must-have" title for photography book collectors. This title is an indispensable photography book-reference. This is one of few copies of the First Hardcover Edition/First Printing ("First Published 1997" with NO further indications) still available online and is in especially fine condition: Clean, crisp, and bright. Please note: Copies available online are subsequent printings or have serious flaws. This is surely an accessible and lovely alternative. A rare copy thus. 500 plates. Some of the greatest photographs and photographers of all time. A fine copy. ISBN 0714836346.

Seller Inventory # 20669

Bibliographic Details

• Title: THE PHOTO BOOK - Scarce Fine Copy of The First Hardcover Edition/First Printing
• Publisher: London, England: Phaidon Press, 1997
• Publication Date: 1997
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0714836346
• ISBN 13: 9780714836348
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: 1st Edition.
• Condition: Fine
• Dust Jacket Condition: Fine
• Signed: no

About this title

Synopsis

Since its birth over one and a half centuries ago, photography has undergone a number of twists and turns in its progress from a practical means of documentation to an art form with its own icons, heroes, galleries and collectors. the Photography Book brings together 500 inspiring, moving and beautiful images of famous events and people, sensational landscapes, historical moments, ground breaking photojournalism, insightful portraits, sports, wildlife, fashion and the everyday. 500 photos, 70 in color.

Reviews

Phaidon's latest massive reference, after the wildly popular The Art Book (LJ 12/94) and The 20th-Century Art Book (LJ 2/1/97), again presents a single work and a one-paragraph summary of the work, the artist, and the career for each of 500 artists. The same obvious reference value of the previous titles is to be found here. The unnamed editors have done a fine job picking one work to summarize a career, though, of course, the same sort of arguments about inclusion will also be provoked: Where are George Platt Lynes and George Dureau? Why include photojournalists' works that function more as pop-culture icons than as representives of a style, movement, or singular talent? In the earlier books, the choice to present the images alphabetically by artists' names left one without any sense of stylistic relationships; here the effect is to create surprising juxtapositions of art and documentary works, and pieces from the 19th and 20th centuries. Indeed the inclusion of iconic images and the juxtapositions raise questions central to the history of the medium and make this perhaps the most successful of the books. Highly recommended for most libraries.?Eric Bryant, "Library Journal"
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.