Sleeping by the Mississippi by Alec Soth, Signed First Edition

Sleeping by the Mississippi by Alec Soth

True First Edition, First Printing, 2004

Includes Invitation to Artists Reception

Inscribed and Signed by Alec Soth

FINE Condition

This is a signed first edition, first printing of the critically acclaimed photobook “Sleeping by the Mississippi” published by Steidl, Germany in 2004. From Photoeye: “There are very few instant classics in any field of artistic pursuit, but this is one of them!! Soth rocketed into prominence after his inclusion in the 2004 Whitney Biennial. He won Review Santa Fe’s Prize for Photography the previous year for the same body of work. He has continued to garner ever-increasing attention. The title, Sleeping by the Mississippi, alludes to the recurrence of beds, a symbol found throughout Soth's work. As he makes his way South along the Mississippi River, Soth show us the bed used by a young Charles Lindberg, photographed at his childhood home in Little Falls, Minnesota. We see the Reverend and Margaret's bedroom, plastered with snapshots, in Vicksburg, and Sunshine, a smug grin on her face, leaning back on what appears to be a hotel bed in Memphis. If anything at all, this is a group of images about place and their inhabitants. There is no story, per se, but rather a series of unconnected dots, placed before the viewer humbly and unapologetically. Soth's working method is meticulous and methodical, as dictated by the 8x10" view camera he uses, and this reflects an inner methodology based in quiet, steady human relationships, abundantly evident here.”  Anne Wilkes Tucker wrote, "Soth alludes to illness, procreation, race, crime, learning, art, music, death, religion, redemption, politics, and cheap sex". Like Robert Frank's classic "The Americans", it merges a documentary style with a poetic sensibility. The Mississippi is less the subject of the book than its organizing structure. Not bound by a rigid concept or ideology, the series is created out of a quintessentially American spirit of wanderlust".

Measuring approximately 11” x 11”, the book is bound in decorated cloth covered boards and was issued without a dust jacket. The condition of the book is FINE.  Included with the book is the invitation for the artist reception at the Yossi Milo Gallery in New York held on March 12, 2004 that features the photograph "Charles, Vasa, Minnesota" on the cover.

The book has been boldly inscribed and signed by Alec Soth on the title page. This is a wonderful opportunity to own a signed first edition of a critically acclaimed photobook by one of the most exciting young photographer’s on the current scene.

Photographs of the book, inscription and signature, invitation and cover, as well as several 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 pictures are viewable as a slideshow.