Photography Books
Two cataloged auctions each year
To meet demand from collectors, Ader established a department dedicated to photography books about ten years ago. Dating back to the origins of photography in the early 19th century, these works reflect a genuine artistic approach on the part of their authors, who use this medium to showcase fine art photography. While publications from the interwar period are particularly sought after by collectors today, more recent books—which continue to be published—can also fetch significant prices. This specialty field is therefore constantly evolving. Depending on their condition, print run, and any dedications by the artists, the most sought-after copies can fetch several thousand euros.
A Word from the Expert
“What led me to become an expert in photography books is, above all, my passion for these artistic works, which I have been collecting for over 20 years and of which I now own 1,200 copies. There are two exceptional books that I would truly love to get my hands on during my career. The first dates back to the early days of the photography book: it is a 1866 guide to the Bois de Vincennes. At the time, photos were still pasted directly onto the pages, and the images in this collection aren’t necessarily the same from one copy to the next! As for the second book, it hasn’t been published yet. In fact, hundreds of photography books are published every year and fetch very high prices. So upcoming publications might just be the next bestsellers! ”
Contacts
Mary Klein
mklein@ader-paris.fr
Experts
Antoine Romand, assisted by François Cam-Drouhin
Expert in photography books:
Bertrand Hosti
3 Rue Favart, 75002 Paris
Phone: +33 (0)1 53 40 77 10
Upcoming Sales
Past Sales
Successful Auctions
135 - KRULL, GERMAINE (1897-1985) [Signed ]Nude studies. Librairie des Arts Décoratifs, A. Calavas Éditeur, Paris, [1930]. Large in-8 in sheets. First edition. 8 pages of title and text. Text by Germaine Krull. 24 plates printed in gravure. Plate n°8 in duplicate (with minor defects). Plate 21 with pinholes at the corners. Plate n° 17 signed by Germaine Krull on the image in the lower right corner (a small kraft strip on the back, trace of mounting). All plates in very good condition, except for the 8 mentioned above. The portfolio is enriched with an original period print representing Berthe Krull, titled on the back in Germaine Krull's hand "Mlle Berthe Krull" + photographer's stamp. Orange portfolio with title label and laces, all in very nice condition.
4 - BOISSONNAS, FRÉDÉRIC (1858-1946) [Signed ]Souvenir de Paris 1900. Portfolio 32 x 24 cm, probably unique, with dedication label pasted on the 1st plate "A ma chère Caro - Souvenir de Paris 1900 - son affectueux Fred - Genève 6 novembre". 37 plates with laminated silver prints (from 9 x 12 cm to 17 x 23 cm). 2 photographs of the Swiss Pavilion, with Fred Boissonnas' stand, followed by 35 photographs, most of them animated (Eiffel Tower, Grand Palais, the Seine, the Trocadero, various Pavilions, etc.). The whole in a portfolio with flaps of time in good condition. In August 1900, an international jury awarded Fred Boissonnas the grand prize for photography, a considerable distinction of the Paris World's Fair. Plate #1, which shows Fred Boissonnas' stand at the Grand Palais, has the ink notation "Grand Prix" in the photographer's hand at the bottom of the image.
147 - MAN RAY (Emmanuel RADNITSKY, known as) (1890-1976 )Man Ray. Photographs 1920-1934. Paris. With a portrait by Picasso - Texts by André Breton Paul Eluard Rrose Sélavy Tristan Tzara - Preface by Man Ray. James Thrall Soby, Hartford - Random House, New-York, 1934. in-4 (31 x 24 cm) . First edition (mention of second edition) bilingual English-French. 104 photographs reproduced in heliogravure. Spiral binding and illustrated soft cover. Ref. Auer, p. 210.
115 - KLEIN, WILLIAM (1928) [Signed ]New York. Life is Good and Good For You in New York: Trance Witness Revels. Éditions du Seuil, Paris, 1956, In-8 (28 x 22 cm) . First French edition signed by William Klein on the title page. 194 pp. Bound in publisher's illustrated dust jacket (dust jacket damaged). Complete with the 16 pp booklet. Collector's stamp on title page. Ref. Auer, p. 365; The book of 101 Books, pp. 140- 142; Hasselblad, pp. 164-165; Parr & Badger, I, p. 243 .
146 - JAHAN, PIERRE (1909-2003) Un anniversaire de Jean Cocteau. 1889-1989. Marval, Paris, 1989. In-4 (34 x 24,5 cm). Édition originale, dédicacée et signée par Pierre Jahan. Préface de Pierre Barillet. 100 pp. Cartonnage illustré.
89 - DRTIKOL, FRANTISEK (1883-1961) Les nus de Drtikol. Librairie des Arts Décoratifs, A. Calavas Éditeur, Paris, s. d. [1929]. In-folio (41 x 31 cm). Édition originale. Portfolio composé d’une double planche de titre, d’une préface par Claude de Santeuil (4 pp.) et de 30 planches de photographies imprimées en héliogravure titrées et numérotées de I à XXX dans les marges. Chemise cartonnée de l’éditeur avec étiquette de titre (chemise salie, tachée et endommagée aux charnières ; planches en bel état, malgré des traces de brunissement sur les contours n’affectant pas les images ; planche XXX avec verso bruni ; planche de titre avec même défaut de brunissement sur une partie de la surface ; pli en coin de la planche XXV). Réf. Bertolotti, p. 58.
165 - KRULL, GERMAINE (1897-1985) Métal. A. Calavas, Librairie des Arts Décoratifs, Paris, [1928]. En planches (30 x 23,5 cm). Édition originale. Une double page de titre. Une double page introductive par Florent Fels. 64 planches imprimées en héliogravure. Chaque planche est numérotée et porte les mentions « Krull, Métal. A. Calavas. Paris » imprimées dans la marge. Chemise composée par M. Tchmukov. Cartonnage illustré avec dos marron et fermeture à lacet. Quelques rousseurs sur les doubles-pages introductives et infimes rousseurs en marges de quelques planches. Ref. Parr & Badger, I, p. 95.
