Alvin Langdon Coburn: Men of Mark. Duckworth & Co. / Mitchell Kennerley. London / New York., 1913. Quarto. First Edition. Preliminary pages (half-title, title, dedication leaf, list of plates) plus introduction by Coburn. 33 tiped-in monochrome photogravure plates, each with sitter's facsimile signature. Linen-backed grey cloth boards with gilt title.
"To make satisfactory photographs of persons it is necessary for me to like them, to admire them, or at least to be interested in them. It is rather curious and difficult to exactly explain, but if I dislike my subject it is sure to come out in the resulting portrait . I had thought of using 'Men of Genius' as the title for this book, but Arnold Bennett objected seriously, saying, very modestly, that he did not consider himself a man of genius, but merely a working author, and absolutely refusing to join the throng unless I changed it, so I told him that if he would give me a better one I would use it. 'Men of Mark' is his alternative"--from Coburn's introduction
Coburn's classic look at early twentieth century celebrity. He followed with another, "More Men of Mark," in 1922.
Reproduction Note: We are showing cover and spine of the copy for sale; to keep the fragile gravures off of the scanner, we have used available online collections. Please inquire for detail photos of plates.
A lovely copy, lacking scarce dust jacket; moderate tanning and foxing to board extremities; slight bump upper corner and wear at crown and base of spine; creasing to a few tissue guards. |
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