Rare books from Dawson's Book Shop

A. Lacroix, Verboeckhoven et Cie/Librarie Internationale, Paris, 1867. Very good. 12 x 9 inches, cloth with gold stamping, rubbed at top and bottom of spine, 71 pages plus map, [2] pages table of contents, [2] pages of advertisements and 25 mounted albumen photographs, photographs range in size from 3 x 4 inches to 5 x 7 inches, the majority of images are mounted on thin boards with letterpress description, several photographs are mounted on text pages, several images show overall fading but most have rich tonality. An interesting survey of the various public functions of the park in the mid-19th century. Photographs by Ildefonse Rousset.

Yugensha, Tokyo, [1987]. Fine. First Edition 13 1/2 x 10 inches, unnumbered pages, cloth with cloth slipcase, paste down illustration from a Robert Frank photograph on front of slipcase, Printed in an edition of 500 copies with text in English and Japanese with 81 reproductions from photographs by Robert Frank. There are two variants for the paste down image on the slipcase. This copy features the image, "Champs Elysees, 1950" that is reproduced in volume one of "The Photobook" by Martin Parr and Gerry Badger on page 264. The other variant image is "Metro Stalingrade". The second book published by Frank's associate and friend Kazuhiku Motomura. This copy in mint condition with the original cardboard shipping container.

Shashin Hyoronsha Publishing House, Tokyo, 1971. Fine. First Edition 14 x 10 inches, unnumbered pages, black cloth with cardboard slipcase, Dust Jacket, Signed by the photographer in Kanji on Japanese title page, With cardboard slipcase including orange printed wrap around band. Preface by Yukio Mishima. The book features a stunning series of Hosoe's stark, sculptural nude studies. Two small promotional brochures for the book and the publisher laid in. All text in Japanese.

Nazraeli Press, Tucson, 2000/2004. Fine. First Edition, Limited edition: Limited edition of 25 copies as stated in the colophon of Dogs Chasing My Car. Both volumes housed in cloth clamshell case containing a gelatin silver print from the Dogs Chasing My Car series and a pigment print from the Isolated Houses series. Each print measures 11 x 12 inches, is signed in pencil on the verso by the photographer and numbered 10/20. The print limitation suggests that only 20 numbered sets were completed. Both books signed in ink by the photographer on the title page 11 3/4 x 11 inches, unnumbered pages, cloth, Dust Jacket.

St. Ann's Press, Los Angeles, 2003. Near fine. Limited edition: #33 of an edition of 50 copies (plus 6 artist proofs). Signed and numbered by Davidson in felt-tip on the half-title. With cloth portfolio containing color dye transfer print measuring 6 3/4 x 9 3/4 inches, signed and editioned in pencil by the photographer on verso. 9 3/4 x 12 inches, 125 pages, gray cloth with lettering stamped in black, matching slipcase, slight soiling and wear to slipcase, Expanded version of the book that was originally published in 1986, with the photographs produced during 1980 and 1981.

The Eakins Press Foundation, New York, (1976). Fine. 11 1/2 x 16 1/2 inches, unnumbered pages, cloth, Signed by the photographer in pen on preliminary blank.

Aperture, New York, (1993). Mint. First Edition, Limited edition: No. 92 of 300 copies signed and numbered by the photographer in felt pen on the colophon page. Accompanied by a gelatin silver print "Coal Mining, Dhanbad, State of Bihar, India" 1989. Image measures 14 x 21 3/4 inches on paper measuring 19 3/4 x 23 1/2 inches, photographer's copyright blindstamp at lower left edge below image, initialed, editioned and dated by photographer in pencil on verso 13 x 9 1/4 inches, 399 pages, cloth, in cloth slipcase, Dust Jacket, Pamphlet with captions in rear cover pocket.

4AD, N.p., 1997. Fine. First Edition, Limited edition: No. 8 of 50 copies signed by the photographer in felt pen on preliminary blank, with a silver gelatin photograph of a floral study measuring 6 1/2 x 5 inches drymounted to rag board measuring 10 1/2 x 8 inches, numbered, signed and dated by the photographer in pencil on mount 10 1/2 x 8 inches, unnumbered pages, cloth with paste down illustration on front cover, cloth slipcase.

Vintage gelatin silver photograph measuring 4 1/2 x 3 ½ inches on cardboard mount measuring 9 3/4 x 7 ½ inches, signed by the photographer in pencil on mount below image. Reproduced on page 17, The San Francisco Book published in 1948. Yavno, a student of documentary photography and the social landscape, started his career in photography during the late 1930s working for the Works Progress Administration in New York City. Like many young photographers in New York during the late 1930s, Yavno was drawn to the meetings of the Photo League where he became close friends with fellow members Consuelo Kanaga and Aaron Siskind. He was president of the League between 1938 and 39. After World War II, Yavno moved to Los Angeles. In 1947 he received a book contract from Houghton Mifflin to photograph the urban scene of San Francisco. The publisher decided to publish a book on San Francisco inspired more by the traditions of the WPA Guide Series of the 1930s than the influence of the local chambers of commerce… Read More

Vintage gelatin silver print measuring 7 x 13 inches dry mounted to Hi-Art Illustration Board measuring 9 x 15 3/8 inches, signed in pencil by the photographer on the mount below image, lower right. Illustrated on page 93 of The San Francisco Book, (1948) and plate 26 in The Photographs of Max Yavno, (1981). Yavno, a student of documentary photography and the social landscape, started his career in photography during the late 1930s working for the Works Progress Administration in New York City. Like many young photographers in New York during the late 1930s, Yavno was drawn to the meetings of the Photo League where he became close friends with fellow members Consuelo Kanaga and Aaron Siskind. He was president of the League between 1938 and 39. After World War II, Yavno moved to Los Angeles. In 1947 he received a book contract from Houghton Mifflin to photograph the urban scene of San Francisco. The publisher decided to publish a book on San Francisco inspired more by the traditions of the WPA Guide… Read More

24 leaves of full page illustrations by Harry Clarke. Rear hinge cracked near bottom edge, some discoloration to vellum, foxing to front and rear endpapers and several leaves at front of book, contents and plates very clean. Number 68 of 170 copies numbered and signed by Clarke.

Adams' project documenting the life of Japanese American internees at Manzanar during World War II.
Lacking the dust jacket as issued but a rare copy in boards. This copy also has an inscription from Adams in pen to Bill and Zelda Holger dated November 1945. Vintage inscriptions from Adams are uncommon especially for this book.
William Holger was a carpenter and construction supervisor in San Francisco. He was also an amateur photographer involved in the f/64 movement in the 1930s. Holger attended many of Adams' early Yosemite Workshops.

slight wear and chipping to dust jacket primarily at edges.
Rare copy of the first edition, first printing warmly inscribed by Charis and Edward in separate entries to William Holger. Holger met Weston through the f/64 group in the 1930s. He was an amateur photographer and a construction supervisor in San Francisco. Holger helped Weston build his home on Wildcat Hill in Carmel.
Laid in, formerly taped to inside front cover, is a photo postcard showing Ansel Adams photographing Edward Weston for the image used on the rear cover of the dust jacket for California and the West. Also included with this copy is a 20 page illustrated article discussing Weston's Guggenheim trips between 1937 and 1939. This article, most likely culled from an edition of U.S. Camera Annual is also inscribed to Holger from Weston.

Includes 39 leaves of plates from photographs by Edward Weston and a frontispiece portrait of the photographer by Brett Westion. This copy includes the cardboard slipcase in very good condition with some wear and chipping at edges.
Edward Weston's first monograph and one of the most important American photography books of the 20th century. The design by Merle Armitage and printing by Lynton Kistler were based in Los Angeles. Weston's close friend Ramiel McGehee edited the literary contributions by Charles Sheeler, Lincoln Steffens, Arthur Millier, and Jean Charlot. The quality of full page reproductions of Weston's work was unprecendented for the time.
Limited to 550 copies of which this is number 353 signed by Weston on the colophon page. Addtionally inscribed to William and Zelda Holger from Edward and Charis dated 1945. Weston met William Holger in the 1930s through the f/64 photography group. Holger was a construction supervisor based in San Francisco. He helped Weston build his home in Wildcat… Read More

Small book plate on inside front cover.
The first major monograph of Adams' work, this book includes 50 tipped-in illustrations from photographs by Ansel Adams in the finest half-tone process of the time. Sierra Club member Walter Starr commissioned Adams to produce the book as a memorial to his son who was killed while solo climbing in the High Sierra. The elaborate publication was used as a sophisticated lobbying tool while Congress was voting on the establishment of the Kings Canyon National Park.
Limited to 500 copies of which this is No. 423 signed by Adams on the colophon leaf.