A Way of Seeing with an Essay by James Agee
New York: Horizon Press, 1981. First Trade Edition of the Enlarged Edition.
THE THEATER of CHILDHOOD
The First Trade Edition (Hardcover) of the 1981 expanded reissue, featuring 24 new images not found in the 1965 original; the definitive 1981 expanded edition, a dual-masterpiece of 20th-century street photography and American criticism.
Sourced directly from the estate of the publisher, Ben Raeburn, and bearing the ownership signature of his partner, Pat Percy, this copy represents the primary lineage of the book’s production. While James Agee’s 1946 essay is widely considered the most penetrating text ever written on the medium, this specific Horizon Press edition—printed by the legendary Meriden Gravure Company—was the first to successfully marry Agee’s poetic vision with Helen Levitt’s expanded portfolio of 24 additional images.
KEY FEATURES:
+++ Visuals: High-quality halftone reproductions printed by the Meriden Gravure Company (superior to the later Duke reprints).
+++ Content: The expanded layout designed by Marvin Hoshino, featuring the complete, unedited text of James Agee's seminal essay.
+++ Provenance: From the estate of Ben Raeburn, with the ownership signature of his life-partner, Pat Percy, on the front free endpaper.
+++ Format: Hardcover in gray cloth with the original photo-illustrated dust jacket.
Physical Specs: Hardcover with Dust Jacket. - 1981 - 9.5 x 10.75 inches.
Condition: Fine in Near Fine Dust Jacket. The binding is tight and square with sharp corners. The text block is crisp. The dust jacket is remarkably fresh with the price intact, showing only the faintest hint of shelf handling. A superior copy preserved within the publisher's estate.
Historical Significance:
A Way of Seeing is unique in the canon of photobooks because it is a true dual-masterpiece. James Agee wrote the accompanying essay around 1946, specifically to champion Levitt's work, though the book remained unpublished until after his death in 1955.
Agee’s text is widely considered one of the most penetrating essays on photography ever written; in it, he defines the camera not as a tool of journalism, but as "the central instrument of our time" for capturing the lyrical, fleeting beauty of the everyday.
He praises Levitt’s ability to remain "invisible" on the street, allowing the raw, unposed theater of New York children to unfold before her lens. This 1981 Horizon Press edition was crucial in re-establishing this collaboration, presenting Agee's poetic criticism alongside Levitt’s expanded portfolio in a quality that finally matched their original vision.
Helen Levitt (1913-2009) is revered as one of America’s great street photographers, best known for her lyrical black-and-white images of New York children and city life. James Agee (1909-1955) was an influential American writer and critic; his essay in A Way of Seeing is widely regarded as among the most penetrating written on photography.
Subjects: Helen Levitt street photography, James Agee photographic criticism/essay, New York City street life, American 20th-century photography, Fine book design, Photography monograph, Art book, Limited edition collectible.
Item #21679
Price: $75.00
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