An Autobiography by Richard Avedon, Signed 1st Edition with Print

An Autobiography by Richard Avedon

First Edition, Deluxe Edition, 1993, 228 of 250

Signed, Dated, and Numbered by Richard Avedon

Includes Separate Marilyn Monroe Special Edition Engraver’s Print

This is a very rare deluxe first edition, first printing of Richard Avedon’s critically acclaimed photobook “An Autobiography” published by Random House, New York in 1993 with a limitation of 250 this being number 228. Steve Anchell reviewed “An Autobiography” in 2004 and wrote, “There are writers who can capture the essence of a person, or a personality, in a single paragraph. Some can do it in a few sentences. There is a genius to this, one that the reader can almost always recognize. There is a style of photography which has the same effect. In one slice of time, a single unguarded moment, we can tell as much, or more, about the person as if we had an entire album to view. Richard Avedons images are like this. Carefully conceived, meticulously controlled, precisely executed slices of time which tell us more about the subjects and the time in which they live than volumes of photographs by others. Richard Avedon - An Autobiography, published by Random House, is a major work, a testament to one of the most influential photographers of the second half of this Century. It is a visual tour de force, defining the man and his times... With only two pages of text, written by Avedon, in oversized type, this book is heavy reading - visual reading. Each image builds upon the next and then the next. Turning the pages, one-by-one, develops a sense of knowing, a sense of being there. We are confronted by the subjects in ways that cannot be lightly dismissed. Through their eyes and body language we see reflected our own dreams, vanities, and loss of illusion. We see unblinking depictions of life, vitality and death, as only the camera can record them. This is the significance of the book, Richard Avedon: An Autobiography.”

Containing 284 full page duotone images and measuring approximately 14.75” x 11.25”, the book is bound in white cloth covered boards with a black-and-white photograph of Richard Avedon mounted on the back cover. Laid into the book in the original acetate sleeve is a special edition engraver’s print of Marilyn Monroe stamped on the verso, “Marilyn Monroe, actress, New York City, May 6, 1957. The print measures 13.5” x 10.5”.  The book is housed in a white cloth slipcase. The book is in FINE condition with some sunning to the spine. The Marilyn Monroe print is in FINE condition in the original acetate sleeve. The slipcase is in FINE- condition with some minor soiling and sunning. The book has been boldly signed, dated, and numbered by Richard Avedon on the first free endpaper.

Photographs of the signature page, front and back of the book cover, slipcase, and the front and back of the Marilyn Monroe print 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.