Dorchester Days by Eugene Richards, Signed First Edition with Ephemera

Dorchester Days by Eugene Richards with Ephemera

First Edition, First Printing, 1978

Signed, Inscribed and Dated by Eugene Richards

This is a rare signed first edition, first printing of Eugene Richard’s seminal photobook “Dorchester Days” published by Many Voices Press, Wollaston MA, in 1978. This now-classic title chronicles life in Richards' hometown of Dorchester, Massachusetts. Although all the photographs are taken within a few streets of each other, the book represents a snapshot of small town America in the 1970s, and as such has a far more wide-reaching resonance. Racial tension, violence, poverty and crime: it is a powerful portrayal of a town and a nation in a state of transition and decline. . The consummate reportage photographer, this work formed the basis for Richards' acceptance into the Magnum agency. Commenting on “Dorchester Days” in their book, “The History of the Photobook”, Parr and Badger state, “"During the 1970s Eugene Richards upheld the gritty, documentary tradition of American photography (fusing) the documentary and the political with the personal a fusion, one might say, of W. Eugene Smith and Robert Frank Richards' involvement with those he is photographing is total, and he is one of the best of photojournalists in getting that across"

Containing 75 striking duotone photographs, the book measures approximately 12” by 9” and is bound in photographically illustrated still wrappers. The book and the wrappers are in FINE- condition with just the slightest touch of wear to the wrapper edges. 

The book is inscribed, signed, and dated by Eugene Richards on the inside cover. Included with the book are a newspaper clipping that contains the book review from the Boston Globe on June 9, 1978 as well as a 4 page review from the June, 1979 edition of Modern Photography magazine. The newspaper and magazine reviews were inside the front cover and have left a yellow shadow on the inside cover where the book has been signed. The ephemera has been removed and inserted into an archival sleeve that will be shipped with the book.

Cited in both “The Photobook: A History”, by Parr and Badger, and “The Open Book” by Andrew Roth.

Photographs of the book cover, signature page, and 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.