Richard Avedon

(New York: self-published, 1978, an edition of 75), a portfolio of 11 photographs, each signed and numbered '1/75' by the photographer in pencil and with his portfolio, copyright, and individual title stamps on the reverse, each within individual wrappers numbered sequentially 1 through 11 by Avedon in pencil, 1948-57, printed in 1978; together with the printed plate list/colophon, these within another wrapper, as issued, signed and numbered '1/75' by the photographer in pencil on the front. Folio, gray buckram clamshell box with the photographer's name printed in red, no. 1 in an edition of 75

All eleven photographs, printed on Agfa Portriga paper, are in generally excellent condition. Some have minor silvering in the dark areas, and some prints are very slightly rippled. As can be seen in our catalogue illustrations, some of these photographs are cool-toned while others have a warmer tonality. 'Dorian Leigh, Coat by Dior, Avenue Montaigne, Paris, August 1949' - A small area of emulsion is folded into the image in the upper left margin corner, not affecting the image. There are light nicks on the top edge, near the upper right corner, not affecting the image. 'Dorian Leigh, Evening dress by Piguet, Helena Rubinstein apartment, Île St.-Louis, Paris, August 1949' - There are 4 faint, warm-toned deposits, varying in size but no larger than a pencil eraser, in the upper left black border corner. 'Suzy Parker, Evening dress by Lanvin-Castillo, Café des Beaux Arts, Paris, August 1956' - There is silvering in the dark areas along the lower left, bottom, and into the lower right edges. In raking light, a small crescent-shaped crease is visible in the lower right quadrant, approximately 2 inches from the lower right edge, which does not affect the image. There is minor soiling along edges of the outer paper wrapper and tissue. There is wear on the tissue, and it is ripped in some places. There is minor discoloration and rubbing at the extremities of the portfolio case, both inside and out, as well as minor pencil or graphite marks on the exterior. Literature: Richard Avedon, Woman in the Mirror (New York, 2005), frontispiece and pp. 14-15, 18-19, 30-31, 32-33, 44-45, 46-47, 50-51, 60-61, 62-63, and 64-65 Michael Juul Holm, ed., Richard Avedon - Photographs 1946-2004 (Humblebæk: Louisiana Museum of Art, 2007, in conjunction with the exhibition), pp. 14, 31, 37, 39, 45, and 57 Richard Avedon: Evidence 1944-1994 (New York, 1994), pp. 38, 48, 50-51, 132, and 135 Richard Avedon, An Autobiography (New York, 1993), pls. 17, 26, and 45
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

This portfolio was published in conjunction with Avedon's 1978 retrospective exhibition at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, September 13 - November 5, 1978.

The plates are as follows:

Elise Daniels with Street Performers, Suit by Balenciaga, Les Marais, Paris, August 1948

Renée, The New Look of Dior, Place de la Concorde, Paris, August 1949

Dorian Leigh, Coat by Dior, Avenue Montaigne, Paris, August 1949

Carmen (Homage to Munkacsi), Coat by Cardin, Place Françoise Premier, Paris, August 1957

Dorian Leigh, Evening dress by Piguet, Helena Rubinstein apartment, Île St.-Louis, Paris, August 1949

Dorian Leigh, Schiaparelli rhinestones, Pré-Catelan, Paris, August 1949

Sunny Harnett, Evening dress by Grès, Casino, Le Touquet, August 1954

Suzy Parker and Robin Tattersall, Evening dress by Griffe, Folies-Bergère, Paris, August 1957

Elise Daniels, Turban by Paulette, Pré-Catelan, Paris, August 1948

Suzy Parker, Evening dress by Lanvin-Castillo, Café des Beaux Arts, Paris, August 1956

Marlene Dietrich, Turban by Dior, The Ritz, Paris, August 1955