Twice A Year: Edited by Dorothy Norman; Published by Alfred Stieglitz

The Complete Fifteen Editions in Nine Volumes (as issued) – All First Editions

Featuring Photographic Works by Alfred Stieglitz, Paul Strand, Brett Weston, Ansel Adams, Todd Webb, and Eliot Porter

This is an extremely scarce complete first edition collection of “Twice A Year: A Book of Literature, The Arts and Civil Liberties” published by Twice A Year (An American Place), New York between 1938 and 1947 which was owned and operated by Alfred Stieglitz.  The publication featured work by many noted avant-garde authors and artists. Each issue was approximately 250 - 500 pages with a print run of 2000 copies. Each volume measures about 9.5” x 6.5”except for volumes 12/13 which measures 8.5” x 5.5” due to war-time restrictions. The literary contributions includes an impressive array of some of the greatest writers of the twentieth century including Henry Miller, Ignazio Silone, E.E. Cummings, Stephen Spender, Proust, Olson, Anais Nin, Sartre, Camus, Malraux, Charles Olson, and W C Williams. As mentioned in the title, the photographic contributions include works by Alfred Stieglitz, Paul Strand, Brett Weston, Ansel Adams, Todd Webb, and Eliot Porter. A highlight of the collection are 4 rare examples of Stieglitz collotypes (his only known life-time images produced by the collotype process) which are much scarcer than his better known, though similar, photogravure prints (for which these are often confused.) and a tipped in original silver gelatin photograph by Todd Webb.

The following is a recap of the collection with condition notes:

Number 1, Fall-Winter 1938. Paper Wrappers 8vo. Includes 4 Stieglitz collotypes (often mistaken for photogravures) and contributions by Rainer Maria Rilke (the first English translation of his War-time Letters), Theodore Dreiser, Henry David Thoreau, Andre Malraux, E.E. Cummings, Franz Kafka, Anais Nin. Also, an article on Alfred Stieglitz [to whom this issue is dedicated] by Dorothy Norman, Charles Olson on Lear and Moby Dick, "On Being a Conscientious Objector" by Roger Baldwin, and "Repeal of the Espionage Law" by T. V. Smith.  Vol. 1 in orig. wraps (not issued in hb); vg condition. Collotypes in fine condition.

Number 2, Spring-Summer 1939. Includes the first English publication of Proust's "A Story" as well as work by William Carlos Williams, John Marin, James Laughlin, George Benard Shaw, Walter Gropius, and others. Also has photo illustrations by Eliot Porter and Alfred Stieglitz. 247 pages plus ads. Vol. 2, Hardback in dust jacket; vg condition

Number 3-4, Fall-Winter 1939 / Spring-Summer 1940. Includes authors Albert Camus; Thomas Mann; Sherwood Anderson; Alfred Kazin - a photograph by Alfred Stieglitz and many articles written as a memorial of his death. Also includes an article by Richard Wright. Vol 3/4 softcover/ French-fold wraps; good condition with minor cover wear.

Number 5-6 Fall-Winter 1940 Spring-Summer 1941. 566 pages, Contributors include Marianne Moore, William Saroyan, Alfred Stieglitz, Albert Einstein, Anais Nin and Henry Miller. Vol.5/6 Stiff boards w/ attached French-fold dj; Good only condition with age-toned dj.

Number 7, Fall-Winter 1941. Frontispiece photo by Ansel Adams and abstraction by Georgia O'Keeffe. A book of literature, the arts, and civil liberties. Published by Dorothy Norman Alfred Stieglitz mistress for many years. 308 pages. Vol. 7, Hardback in dust jacket w/ attached French-fold dj; very good condition.

Number 8-9 Spring-Summer, Fall-Winter, 1942. This issue with a section on Alfred Stieglitz 357 pages plus a 73 page section devoted to Alfred Stieglitz with writing by Stieglitz, Carl Zigrosser, and Henry Miller. The book also features two high quality reproductions from Steiglitz's "Equivalents" series. Vol. 8/9, Stiff boards w/ attached French-fold dj; very good condition.

Number 10-11 Spring-Summer 1943 and Fall-Winter 1943. With ORIGINAL SILVER GELATIN PHOTOGRAPH BY TODD WEBB and contributions by Arthur Koestler, Alfred Kazin, Dorothy Norman, Alfred Stieglitz, Sherwood Anderson, and others. Vol. 10/11, Hardback in dust jacket; Very good condition with toning and edge tear to jacket.

Number 12-13, Spring-Summer / Fall-Winter of 1945. Contains work by Richard Wright, Horace Cayton, Hart Crane, Lewis Mumford, Andre Malraux, Louis Sullivan and others. Photographs by Ansel Adams and others. 568 pages.  Vol. 12/13, Stiff boards w/ French-fold dj; very good condition.

Number 14-15, Fall-Winter 1946-1947. 513 pages, illustrated (reproducing photographs, printed on glossy stock paper, by Alfred Stieglitz, John Heartfield and Todd Webb, a drawing by George Grosz, etc.). Contains "In Memoriam. Alfred Stieglitz: Six Happenings (And a Conversation Recorded by Dorothy Norman), " "The Dance is On" by Sherwood Anderson, "Discrimination in America" (three essays) by Richard Wright, "Color, U.S.A. " by Owen Dodson.. Vol. 14/15, Stiff boards w/ attached French-fold dj. Very good condition.

This is a wonderful opportunity to obtain the complete collection of one of the most notable literary and artistic publications published in the twentieth century. Currently, this is the only complete collection being offered in the marketplace.

Photographs of the as well as several photographs contained in the collection appear below. Please note that although the photographs appear digitized as thumbnails, they are viewable in the photo viewer by running your mouse over the thumbnail. You can also click on the thumbnail to open a separate window where the pictured are viewable as a slideshow.