Paris de Nuit by Brassai, First Edition, First Printing

Paris de Nuit by Brassai

First Edition, First Printing, 1933

This is a scarce first edition, first printing of Brassai’s acclaimed masterpiece, “Paris de Nuit” published by Arts et Métiers Graphiques, Paris in 1933. Writing in The Book of 101 Books: Seminal Photographic Books of the Twentieth Century, Andrew Roth wrote “..with 64 rich full-page photogravures capturing his unforgettable "social fantastic" vision of Paris, "Paris de Nuit combines the luxe and the louche. Its graphic design is sophisticated and its photogravure reproductions so rich that the sooty blacks still look like they'll rub off the page. Paul Morand, novelist, diplomat, and, later, persona non grata for his collaboration with the Vichy government, gets the cover's most prominent credit for his essay here, but Brassaï's photos are the book's real meat. Brassaï became a master at drawing luminosity from the darkness. [This work has] lost none of its dark glamour or film noir grit". "The book created a sensation when it was published; many pictures from the series were deemed too risqué and were not exhibited or published for decades, until the 1976 sequel, The Secret Paris of the 1930s. The first book set [Brassaï] on a lucrative and prolific career" (McDarrah, 55).

Measuring approximately 10” x 8”, the book is wire spiral bound in photographically illustrated fragile wrappers. The condition of the book is Very Good+ with creases and rubs to the front and rear wraps. The spiral wire is in great shape with very minimal paper loss to the tips of the  corners near the spiral. The internals are in Very Good+ condition with no foxing or signs of previous ownership. Overall, this is a highly desirable copy of a notoriously fragile masterpiece that is rarely found in this condition.

Cited in all three reference works on photobooks:  “The Book of 101 Books: Seminal Photographic Books of the Twentieth Century” by Andrew Roth and “The Photobook: A History”, by Parr and Badger, and “The Open Book” by Andrew Roth.

Photographs of the books cover as well as photographs contained in the book 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 picture is viewable.