“HEARTFELT, IMMEDIATE AND POWERFUL”: FIRST AMERICAN SOFTCOVER EDITION OF AMERICAN PICTURES

HOLDT, Jacob. American Pictures. (Copenhagen): American Pictures Foundation, (1985). Square quarto, original stiff photographic wrappers. $550.

First American edition, in softcover, Holdt’s moving, self-published account of poverty in America, inscribed on the title page, “To Rau; with love Jacob Holdt,” with over 650 color and black-and-white photographs.

In the 1970s, Danish photographer Jacob Holdt hitchhiked across America, a five-year odyssey recorded in 3,000 pictures, from which he selected the hundreds of images seen in this critically-praised photobook. “Holdt’s words and pictures… heartfelt, immediate and powerful—combine to give a personal, sometimes naïve, yet persuasive analysis of the racism and class inequalities in American society” (Parr & Badger II:247). “To be put on the shelf next to Let Us Now Praise Famous Men by Agee and Evans” (New York Post). In 1984, Holdt’s photographs became the foundation for his award-winning film of the same title. First edition, softcover, published same year as first hardcover, no priority established. Preceded by the scarce 1977 first Danish edition, also self-published.

Interior fine, light edge-wear to bright wrappers. A desirable, near-fine copy, scarce inscribed.