RARE PRESENTATION COPY OF RECOLLECTIONS, INSCRIBED BY BERENICE ABBOTT, NELL DORR, LOTTE JACOBI, AND THREE OTHER PIONEERING WOMEN PHOTOGRAPHERS, ACCOMPANIED BY ONE OF ABBOTT’S SILVER GELATIN PRINTS

MITCHELL, Margareta K. Recollections. Ten Women of Photography. New York: Viking, (1979). Quarto, original debossed black cloth, original dust jacket. Laid-in silver gelatin print (8 by 10 inches) inscribed on the verso. $7500.

First edition of this tribute to ten leading women photographers: Berenice Abbott, Ruth Bernhard, Carlotta M. Corpron, Louise Dahl-Wolfe, Nell Dorr, Toni Frissell, Laura Gilpin, Lotte Jacobi, Consuelo Kanaga and Barbara Morgan. An exceptional presentation copy warmly inscribed by six of the photographers and the author to Anna Winand, long associated with New York’s International Center of Photography, which housed the landmark exhibit accompanying this volume: “For Anna, Why can’t I have met you before this farewell. This Hail and Farewell-Nell Dorr”; “For Anna, with good wishes and love, Lotte’; “Carlotta M. Corpron”; “Thank you, Anna, Ruth Bernhard, Berenice Abbott”; “For Anna, All best wishes-Barbara Morgan”; “For Anna, With thanks for your presence at ICP! Love from Margaretta.” This copy also with a laid-in silver gelatin print (8 by 10 inches), with “Berenice Abbott” inscribed on the verso by Winand.

“Women have been active in photography from its inception,” yet it was not until the 1970s that questions arose about “their relative absence from the principal histories” and major exhibits (Lenman, 688). Leading that reappraisal was a pioneering 1979 exhibit at New York’s International Center of Photography (ICP), which showcased ten of the living women photographers celebrated in Recollections, published in conjunction with the exhibit. This handsome volume highlights Berenice Abbott’s New York cityscapes, Ruth Bernhard’s evocative nudes, Carlotta Corpron’s luminous studies of light, Louise Dahl-Wolf’s crisp fashion photography, Nell Dorr’s poetic views of parenthood, Toni Frissell’s powerful coverage of WWII, Laura Gilpin’s compelling images of the American Southwest, Consuelo Kanaga’s striking work during the Great Depression, Lotte Jacobi’s iconic portraiture and Barbara Morgan’s sublime images of modern dance. With over 180 photogravure plates; text by Mitchell. With a superb laid-in silver gelatin print inscribed “Berenice Abbott” by Winand on the verso. This rare presentation copy is from the library of Anna Winand, a leading New York critic long affiliated with International Center of Photography.

Images fine and bright, light edge-wear to about-fine book; light edge-wear to near-fine dust jacket. An extraordinary presentation copy.