Jazz by Ed Van der Elsken, First Edition

Jazz by Ed Van der Elsken

First Edition, First Printing, 1959

This is a rare first edition, first printing of Van der Elsken’s critically acclaimed photobook “Jazz” published by De Bezige Bij, Amsterdam in 1959.  Parr & Badger in “The Photobook: A History” write, “…this book is perhaps the most successful of numerous attempts to capture photographically the essence of jazz because it is more than just "a succession of musicians' portraits, or even a documentary record of performance, but a book that visually echoes the music itself. Other photographers, perhaps closer to the Jazz community, have made books on the subject, but Van Der Elsken's is the work of an authentic jazz fan and a maker of authentic photobooks.” Vince Aletti in “The Book of 101 Books: Seminal Photographic Books of the Twentieth Century” adds, “In a sense Van der Elsken turned his books into cinematic self-portraits, photographing and finding the ideal graphic shape for his passions. One passion was for jazz, and his 1959 book on the subject, shot at concerts in Amsterdam and The Hague, is clearly a devoted fan's attempt to capture not just the performer but the performance".

Featuring 79 black-and-white photogravure plates and measuring approximately 7” x 7”, the book is bound in photographically illustrated laminated boards. The edition was issued without a dust jacket.  The book is in FINE condition and Near Fine+ boards with some wear at the tips and some surface wear. Overall, this is an exceptional copy of this critically acclaimed photobook that is rarely found in such wonderful condition.

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

Photographs of the book 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 clicking your mouse on the thumbnail.