“THE GRANDEUR OF THIS DOOMED, ASTONISHING PLACE”: FIRST EDITION OF BETHLEHEM STEEL, SIGNED BY ANDREW GARN

GARN, Andrew. Bethlehem Steel. (New York): Princeton Architectural Press, (1999). Square quarto, original stiff gray photographic wrappers. $300.

First edition, first issue, of a tribute to America’s industrial heritage and the Bethlehem plant whose workers produced steel for the Chrysler Building and the Golden Gate Bridge, signed by photographer Garn on the half title, with over 50 black-and-white duotone plates.

In Bethlehem Steel, award-winning photographer Andrew Garn documents the plant that once produced steel for Manhattan’s Chrysler building, Chicago’s Merchandise Mart and the Golden Gate Bridge. In images taken from 1995-99 that “convey the grandeur of this doomed, astonishing place” (Architect’s Journal), Garn documents the blast furnaces, open-hearth furnaces and coke ovens “of one of the oldest and still most magnificent industrial sties in the world” (Pennsylania Express Times). With text by historian Lance Metz and over 50 duotone plates recalling the industrial photography of Margaret Bourke-White and Germany’s Bernd and Hilla Becher. First edition, with stiff gray wrappers and central photographic image of a blast furnace; issued in wrappers only.

A fine signed copy.