[Czech Photographic Society] Fotografie 1928-58

Prague: Orbis, 1959. First Edition. Fine. Portfolio of 20 original gelatin silver prints, representing 30 years of Czech photography, including Josef Sudek's "Mé Okno" (1952), Jaromir Funke's "Z Cyklu Cas Trvá" (1932), Karel Hájek's "Zachranený" (1934), and Erich Einhorn's "Za mané?e" (1958). Introduced by Czech poet Josef Kainar. Each print measures 300 x 250mm and is titled and dated on verso. Original folding wheat-colored buckram portfolio (305 x 255mm), lettered in black and printed with blue and yellow splotches on upper board, text in Czech to inside panels. The photographers who furnished negatives for the project were Frantisek Drtikol, Funke, Hájek, Alexandr Paul, Eugen Wiskovsky, Jiri Jenicek, Miroslav Hák, Zdenko Feyfar, Karel Ludwig, Václav Chochola, Zdenek Tmej, Sudek, Josef Ehm, Josef Prosek, Karel Plicka, Tibor Honty, Jindrich Brok, Václav Jiru, Jan Lukas, and Einhorn. Light stain at fore-edge of upper board, else Fine. The development of sophisticated hand-held 35mm cameras in the 1920s permitted Czech photographers to move outside of the studio, with its set-piece backdrops and large-format cameras. The Czech avant-garde, using Leicas, Zeiss Ikons, and Exaktas, explored the possibilities of plein air photography, while occupation by foreign governments (first Germany, then the Soviet Union) clapped a lid on the dissemination of their work. See Fotografia Publica, p. 80. 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.).