Les Americains by FRANK, Robert - 1958

Paris: Delpire, 1957. First edition of the photographer's masterpiece with 83 black-and-white full-page photogravures. Oblong quarto, original boards illustrated by Saul Steinberg. In near fine condition. Jack Kerouac wrote in his preface of The Americans, "Robert Frank, he sucked a sad poem out of America onto film, taking rank among the tragic poets of the world. To Robert Frank I now give this message. You got eyes." Frank’s Américains eventually achieved legendary status as "the most renowned photobook of all It struck a chord with a whole generation of American photographers. Many memorable photobooks have been derived from this mass of material. None has been more memorable, more influential, nor more fully realized than Frank’s masterpiece" (Parr & Badger I:247). "From the more than 20,000 images that resulted, Frank eventually chose 83 of them and arranged them into four chapters ‘With these photographs,’ he later wrote, ‘I have… Read More

Paris: Robert Delpire, 1958. First Edition. Near Fine. First edition, first printing of Robert Frank's iconic photobook, preceding the American first edition published by Grove Press by nearly a year. Text in French. Bound in publisher's original laminated boards with illustration by Saul Steinberg. Near Fine, with slight lean to binding, light toning to spine with light wear at the spine ends and a small stain to the top edge of the page block. A very sharp and bright copy.

Paris: Delpire, 1957. First edition of the photographer's masterpiece with 83 black-and-white full-page photogravures. Oblong quarto, original boards illustrated by Saul Steinberg. In fine condition. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell and chemise box. ack Kerouac wrote in his preface of The Americans, "Robert Frank he sucked a sad poem out of America onto film, taking rank among the tragic poets of the world. To Robert Frank I now give this message. You got eyes." Frank’s Américains eventually achieved legendary status as "the most renowned photobook of all It struck a chord with a whole generation of American photographers Many memorable photobooks have been derived from this mass of material. None has been more memorable, more influential, nor more fully realized than Frank’s masterpiece" (Parr & Badger I:247). "From the more than 20,000 images that resulted, Frank eventually chose 83 of them and arranged them into four chapters ‘With these photographs,’ he… Read More

Paris: Robert Delpire, 1958. First Edition. Near Fine. First edition, first printing of Robert Frank's iconic photobook, preceding the American first edition published by Grove Press by nearly a year. Signed by Robert Frank on the title page. Text in French. Bound in publisher's original laminated boards with illustration by Saul Steinberg. Near Fine, with light wear and light soiling to binding, short superficial crack to top of front spine joint, several preliminary leaves lightly creased, hinge slightly exposed at half-title page and page block a little sunken. A lovely copy of Frank's iconic and influential work.