Stuttgart: J. Engelhorns Nachf. [1931]. Salomon, Erich. First edition. Small 4to., 46 pp., and 112 b&w photos on 104 pp., with texts in German, English, French and Spanish. Plain card wrappers with the printed dust jacket affixed to the spine. The lower tip is bumped, there are small chips missing at the edges and rubbing at the spine; on the front panel a 2-inch closed tear at the top near the spine and a short one at the bottom has been closed with archival tape on the blank reverse. The dust jacket is worn but largely intact and good. This seems to be a unique, prepublication copy, either a maquette or a copy for review. All other copies I have handled over the years have been in blue cloth, titled in gilt, issued with a separate dust jacket. I have consulted with both Martin Parr, the noted photographer, author and collector, and Manfred Heiting, noted author and collector, who concur; neither have seen such a copy. Item #51845

Salomon, from a German-Jewish banking family, studied mechanical engineering and the law. In 1927, he took up the miniature camera and recorded the ruling class from his privileged seat among them. This work is a regarded as one of the most important books of the candid camera. The title, which translates as, "Famous Contemporaries in Unguarded Moments" includes photos of Hindeburg, Chamberlain, Lloyd George, William Randolph Hearst, Richard Strauss, and others. Parr and Badger, The Photobook, Volume 1, p. 131.

Price: $1,250.00