Berlin, Klinkhardt & Biermann, 1930
With the publisher's scarce wraparound band. The first monograph of Moholy-Nagy's photographs, with the publisher's scarce wraparound band, which exists in three versions: German, French, and English. This book was supposed to be a part of a much larger series of books titled Fototek, but only the first two were published due to the economic and political circumstances in Germany at the time. The second volume, also titled 60 Fotos, is devoted to Aenne Biermann, with future unrealized titles announced at the rear, to include 'The Monsterous - Kitsch in Photography'; 'Photomontage edited by Jan Tschichold'; 'The Police Photograph'; 'El Lissitsky 60 Fotos and Typofotos'; 'The Sport Photograph'; and '100 years of Nude Photography', a note also states that several others were being planned. The series was edited by Franz Roh and designed by Jan Tschichold.
Roh and Tschichold had previously collaborated on Foto-Auge (1929), the book issued to accompany the Film und Foto exhibition in Stuttgart. Sales of the two Fototek volumes were sluggish, and the financial difficulties that Klinkhardt & Biermann encountered due to the economic crisis led to the sale of the publishing house. In March 1932, Franz Roh wrote to the photographer Moi Ver that he still hoped to be able to include his work in a later volume of the Fototek series but that negotiations with the new owners were ongoing. The following March, he again wrote to Moi Ver, stating that he hoped to continue the series with another publisher, adding that he had asked Laszlo Moholy-Nagy to come on board as a co-editor. However, shortly after this, the Nazi Party came to power, and the political and cultural changes in Germany made it impossible to continue a series like Fototek.
First edition with the scarce wraparound band; 8vo (249 x 175 mm, 9¾ x 7 in); black-and-white photographs printed in relief halftone by F. Bruckmann AG, Munich, text in German, English, and French, design by Jan Tschichold; photo-illustrated wrappers printed in yellow and black, publisher's green printed wraparound band, minor wear, in a custom drop spine box by Julie Nadot, fine; 11, [60], [5]pp.
Regards à travers Le Livre 33; Fotografia Pública 586; Auer Collection p158; Autopsie II, pp332–43.
Roh and Tschichold had previously collaborated on Foto-Auge (1929), the book issued to accompany the Film und Foto exhibition in Stuttgart. Sales of the two Fototek volumes were sluggish, and the financial difficulties that Klinkhardt & Biermann encountered due to the economic crisis led to the sale of the publishing house. In March 1932, Franz Roh wrote to the photographer Moi Ver that he still hoped to be able to include his work in a later volume of the Fototek series but that negotiations with the new owners were ongoing. The following March, he again wrote to Moi Ver, stating that he hoped to continue the series with another publisher, adding that he had asked Laszlo Moholy-Nagy to come on board as a co-editor. However, shortly after this, the Nazi Party came to power, and the political and cultural changes in Germany made it impossible to continue a series like Fototek.
First edition with the scarce wraparound band; 8vo (249 x 175 mm, 9¾ x 7 in); black-and-white photographs printed in relief halftone by F. Bruckmann AG, Munich, text in German, English, and French, design by Jan Tschichold; photo-illustrated wrappers printed in yellow and black, publisher's green printed wraparound band, minor wear, in a custom drop spine box by Julie Nadot, fine; 11, [60], [5]pp.
Regards à travers Le Livre 33; Fotografia Pública 586; Auer Collection p158; Autopsie II, pp332–43.
About us
Shapero Rare Books is an internationally renowned dealer in antiquarian & rare books and works on paper.
Our Bookshop and Gallery can be found in the heart of Mayfair at 106 New Bond Street, where most of our stock is available to view and on public display.
We exhibit at major international art fairs, including TEFAF (Maastricht and New York), Frieze Masters, Art Miami and Masterpiece London, as well as antiquarian & rare book fairs including New York, Paris, London, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Hong Kong.
