Peladeau, Marius B. [Introduction by Berenice Abbott (1898–1991)]

Chansonetta: The Life and Photographs of Chansonetta Stanley Emmons, 1858-1937. [Inscribed by Berenice Abbott to Publisher Ben Raeburn]

Morgan & Morgan, Waldoboro, Maine:, 1977.

‘From the estate of publisher Ben Raeburn, with his discreet editorial ticks; warmly inscribed on the title page by Berenice Abbott, who contributes the introduction.’

The bindings are tight and square. Text is clean; light, even age-toning. Minimal shelf handling wear; typical of softcover format. Internally bright, with several discreet pencil checkmarks in Raeburn’s hand, as seen in other copies from his library. Overall, a very well-preserved association copy. Previous bookseller ‘autographed sticker’ on the front. Oblong; 96 pages; b;ack-and-white photography.

This work reintroduced the rediscovered glass-plate photography of Chansonetta Stanley Emmons (1858–1937), sister of the Stanley Steamer inventors, whose rural Maine and New England scenes captured early 20th-century domestic life with artistic sensitivity.

Berenice Abbott, a major figure of American modernist photography, contributed the introduction and inscribed this copy. Her inscription to Ben Raeburn (1901–1997)—publisher and editor of Horizon Press—reflects a close professional relationship. Raeburn’s pencil notations suggest he was reviewing or marking passages for possible reference or publicity.

Emmons’s work, long neglected, was contextualized here within early women’s photography alongside contemporaries like Gertrude Käsebier and Alice Austen. Abbott’s introduction situates Emmons as a pioneer of vernacular realism, a sensibility Abbott herself advanced in her documentation of American life. No later editions were issued after this 1977 publication.

Note for collectors:
The inscription hand reads as ‘Berenice’—consistent with Berenice Abbott’s habit of signing her first name in a slanted, looping script with a prominent initial ‘B’ and trailing flourish. Context supports this: Abbott wrote the book’s introduction and knew Raeburn professionally and socially. The content (‘with love’) fits an inscription to a close publishing friend rather than an author.

Many books from Raeburn’s estate commonly show light editorial checkmarks or marginal ticks. These are typical publisher’s/reader’s marks used while reviewing text layout and photo captions or when preparing press/marketing notes. This copy’s ticks match that pattern and appear to be in Raeburn’s hand.

Page 7 penciled change to the subject’s name—what is it?
It looks like an informal correction calling attention to Chansonetta’s maiden name, ‘Stanley’ (she became Chansonetta Stanley Emmons after marriage). The author uses the full compound name throughout; Raeburn’s note likely flags emphasis rather than a true textual error. (See institutional descriptions that style her name with maiden and married forms.) 

Subjects: Chansonetta Stanley Emmons, Berenice Abbott, American photography, Maine, Rural life, Women photographers, Association copy, Photographic monograph, Women in photography, Art biography.



Item #21237
ISBN: 0917312015

Price: $180.00