Salomon

1931 · BB1978 — Stuttgart: J. Engelhorns Nachf 1931. First Edition. Decorative Cloth. Fine. First Printing of this pioneering photobook by one of the originators of photojournalism. Tall 8vo 250 x 185 mm: 461pp with 116 full- and half-page plates with picture legends in German English French and Italian on versos. Original French blue cloth upper cover and spine stamped in gilt without the photo-illustrated dust jacket. Edges very lightly spotted else a Fine firmly bound copy clean and bright throughout. Roth 101 pp. 74-75. Roth Open Book pp. 104-105. Parr & Badger I p. 131. Auer p. 166. Fotografia Publica 519. Candid black-and-white photographs of statesmen scientists painters writers and conductors William Randolph Hearst playing solitaire at San Simeon Albert Einstein listening to a Reichstag speech Benito Mussolini conferring with German statesmen in Rome caught in unguarded moments yawning dozing slouching. In 1928 Salomon "began to use the miraculous new Ermanox camera with its very fast f2.0 later f1.8 lens to photograph celebrities unawares. These unposed available-light photographs dubbed 'candid photography' by the London Graphic caused a sensation when they appeared in the Berliner Illustrirte Zeitung. Politicians were wary at first but quickly realized the potential of such images and Salomon was granted unprecedented access to high-level meetings." During the war Solomon was sent to Auschwitz where with his wife and son he died in 1944. N. B. With few exceptions always identified we only stock books in exceptional condition carefully preserved in archival removable mylar sleeves. All orders are packaged with care and posted promptly. Satisfaction guaranteed. Fine Editions Ltd is a member of the Independent Online Booksellers Association and we subscribe to its codes of ethics. J. Engelhorns Nachf unknown