Self and Others by Shigeo Gocho

Self and Others by Shigeo Gocho

Includes Dust Jacket and OBI

Exceptional Condition

This is the 1994 reprint of the highly regarded photobook “Self and Others” published by Miraisha Publishing, Tokyo that was originally self published by Shigeo Gocho in 1977. After the book was rescued from obscurity in the late 1990s by photography critic Kotaro lizawa who wrote a glowing review in “Déjà Vu”, the book became a cult classic in Japan.  An inferior reprint of the book was published in 2007. Ryuichi Kaneko and Ivan Vartanian in their reference work on Japanese Photobooks, “Japanese Photobooks of the 1960s and 70s” provide an excellent critique, “Only two images in “Self and Others” are captioned, and these show the photographer himself. In one, family portrait, he is six; the other a self-portrait, shows his diminutive frame and stooped head. He suffered from caries, a degenerative bone disease that he would eventually succumb to at the age of thirty-six. He grew to a height of no more than four foot three, so his eyes were at the level of a child’s, as underscored by the numerous children who appear in this photographs. The altered viewpoint gives his work a mysterious quality.”

Containing 60 black-and-white photographs, the book measures approximately 8” x 9” and is bound in black covered boards with a photographically illustrated dust jacket and OBI. The dust jacket and OBI are protected by a mylar cover. The book is in FINE condition in a Near FINE+ dust jacket with some wear to the top edges. Overall, this is an exceptional copy of highly regarded photobook.

Cited in the reference work on Japanese Photobooks, “Japanese Photobooks of the 1960s and 70s” by Ryuichi Kaneko and Ivan Vartanian.

Photographs of the front and rear of the dust jacket with OBI as well as photographs from 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.