N.p. The Photographer, c1960. Clergue, Lucian. First edition. Portfolio with 11 original b&w silver photographs, of varying sizes, including one folded, mounted to bifold art paper; includes a manuscript title page and colophon (title page calligraphy in dark red crayon, colophon calligraphy in ink with the photographer's signature in dark red crayon). The colophon reads " Cette plaquette de ouze photographie de Lucien Clergue, consacrée aux gitans des Saintes Maries de la Mer et à Sarah leur patronne a été tirée à 150 exemplaires par l'auteur. Ex no 115". All housed in a plain black paper wrapper with "Gitans" in calligraphy in red crayon on the front wrapper. The black outer wrappers, which are slightly worn at the spine ends, have small tissue repairs on the blank reverse. Near Fine. Item #50212

Lucien Clergue started his long career as a photographer following the street performers and Gypsies in the south of France. By 1960, he had already amassed a large body of work from the Camargue region, known in medieval times as a retreat for the Roma peoples, and specifically from its capital, Saintes Maries de la Mer.

In this portfolio, at least one of the images dates from 1955, and is one of the photographer's signature early images. Although many of these images have been reproduced in later books and exhibitions, this portfolio is never mentioned in his bibliography or official chronology; therefore, the date is inexact. In later years, Clergue devoted most of his photographic attention to the female nude, yet the images from this body of work show him to have been a master of the social documentary roving camera.

WorldCat locates only two copies: Bibliotheque Nationale de France, and New York Public Library Research Library.

Price: $3,500.00