Fauna by Joan Fontcuberta and Pere Formiguera, True First Edition

Dr. Ameisenhaufen's Fauna by Joan Fontcuberta and Pere Formiguera

First Edition, First Printing, 1988

True First Edition of Fauna

This is a rare first edition, first printing of the critically acclaimed photobook “Dr. Ameisenhaufen's Fauna” published by Gottingen: European Photography, in 1988. Though often reprinted, this is the true first edition of Fauna that presents what is purportedly the remains of the archive of a little known German scientist named Dr Peter Ameisenhaufen and his assistant Hans Von Kubert (playful alter egos of Formiguera and Fontcuberta). Together, through notes, maps, sketches and photographs, they present evidence of a bewildering array of strangely mutated creatures from all over the world. This elaborate hoax has been exhibited in both natural history museums and galleries. It asks questions of the authority of science as a purveyor of truth and knowledge, and forces us to re-consider the complex relationship between photography and truth. Commenting on Fauna in “The Book of 101 Books: Seminal Photographic Books of the Twentieth Century”, David Levi Strauss stated, “Fontcuberta has always considered himself a conceptual artist who uses photography and was determined from the beginning to make conceptual art that wasn’t boring. With Fauna, he succeeded famously.”

Measuring approximately 8.5” x 6”, the book is bound in printed wraps. The book is in FINE- condition with a very shallow surface crease to the upper right front corner. Overall, this is an exceptional copy of a photobook that is highly sought after becoming increasingly scarce.

Cited in all three reference books 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 front cover of the book 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 as a slideshow.