“BURN THIS BOOK!”: WILLIAM KLEIN PHOTOGRAPHS, A RARE ASSOCIATION COPY BOLDLY INSCRIBED BY KLEIN

KLEIN, William. William Klein Photographs. (New York): Aperture, (1981). Folio, original white photographic paper boards, original dust jacket. $2800.

First trade edition, provocatively inscribed by Klein to longtime colleague, award-winning photographer Peter Turnley, written in white felt-tip pen on the half title, “To Peter, Burn this book & fuck Hoffman forever! Bill Klein,” a passionate note referring to Klein’s infamous working relationship with Michael Hoffman, editor-publisher of Aperture, with over 100 photogravures showcasing Klein’s four-city series and other works from 1956-80.

“One of the most important photographers of his generation,” William Klein revolutionized photography with his unorthodox and “dynamic books about New York City, Tokyo, Rome and other cities, published in the 1950s and 60s” (New York Times). Klein’s remarkable body of work “reminds us that much great, serious art is often about play, achieved simply by experimenting with the possibilities of the material. Forget trance and witness-the revels are the thing” (Parr & Badger I:243). This Aperture monograph, with a profile of Klein by John Heilpern, assembles some of the finest images from the photographer’s influential career. First trade edition, preceded by signed numbered limited edition of 400 copies published the same year. See Parr & Badger I:243. See Roth, 140. In his inscription, Klein’s passionate “Burn this book!” refers to his tense working relationship with Aperture’s editor-publisher Michael Hoffman (1942-2001). Scarce association copy from the collection of acclaimed Paris-based photojournalist Peter Turnley, who has covered “almost every important international news event of the last 15 years” for Newsweek and Harper’s Magazine (New York Times).

Images clean and fresh, tiny stamp to edge of text-block; minimal tape reinforcement to verso of price-clipped dust jacket. A scarce association copy, about-fine.