“CHIM LOOKED AT THE WORLD, EVEN THE WORLD AT WAR, WITH WONDERMENT”: DAVID SEYMOUR— CHIM, WITH OVER 65 PHOTOGRAVURES

SEYMOUR, David (CHIM). David Seymour—“Chim.” New York: Paragraphic/Grossman, 1966. Small square quarto, original photographic wrappers. $175.

First trade edition, a tribute to the career of beloved photojournalist David Seymour, known as “Chim,” with over 65 finely screened photogravure plates, along with Elliott Erwitt’s famed image of Erwitt’s son playing with Chim, taken the same year the photographer died covering the Suez.

Featuring powerful images of the Popular Front and the Spanish Civil War, and memorable pictures of war-ravaged children, this retrospective photobook highlights the photography of David Seymour, fondly known as Chim, who “looked at the world, even the world at war, with wonderment” (New York Times). Chim died tragically in the Suez at age 45, only two years after the sudden death of Robert Capa, his co-founder of Magnum. When asked “ “if he had any regrets, [fellow Magnum co-founder] Cartier-Bresson answered, ‘I regret that Chim and Capa were killed too soon” (Roth, 126). Essays by Cartier-Bresson and Judith Friedberg. Published in wrappers only, as issued without dust jacket. Scarce first trade edition, appearing same year as limited edition, no priority established.

Images fine and bright, light edge-wear to fragile photographic wrappers. A near-fine copy.