Firsts : London's Rare Book Fair

Michael Hoppen is delighted to participate in Firsts, London’s foremost rare book fair!

Presenting an eclectic selection spanning unique photographic albums, limited edition artist books, rare portfolios, and other printed materials from across the last 150 years, we are looking forward to sharing highlights from the gallery’s archive with London’s book community.

Reinforcing our commitment to Japanese photography and the wider print culture in which it flourished, our stand will showcase first editions of photobooks by some of Japan’s most legendary artists, including Shо̄mei Tо̄matsu, Eikoh Hosoe, and Moriyama Daido. These will be shown against a lively contextual backdrop of avant-garde posters, created at a time when the boundaries between illustration, graphic design, photography and art remained experimentally fluid. In addition to these individual works, we will be bringing an outstanding private library of 31 rare Japanese photobooks in exceptional condition.

We will also spotlight the gallery’s specialism in early photographic materials and our enthusiasm for works which exemplify the rich history of photographic processes. This selection includes vintage collotypes from Eadweard Muybridge’s seminal series Animal Locomotion, as well as amateur astronomer Isaac Roberts’ pioneering study of nebulae. These important photographic contributions to the history of science will be complimented by a diverse medley of albums, photomontages, stereoscopics, smoke prints, and magic lantern slides.

FAIR DETAILS

Thursday 16 May - Sunday 19 May, 2024
11 - 5 pm
Saatchi Gallery
Duke of York’s HQ, King’s Road
London, SW3 4RY