Alfred Stieglitz, Editor

(New York: The Camera Club of New York, July 1897 - July 1902), a consecutive run of all 21 numbers edited by Stieglitz, illustrated with photogravures and halftones by Stieglitz, Edward Steichen, Gertrude Käsebier, F. Holland Day, Clarence White, Frederick Evans, Frank Eugene, and others, largely complete, with occasional penciled annotations by EDWARD STEICHEN; in 6 volumes, most of the original wrappers bound in. 4to, green cloth with gilt Club medallion on front covers, the bookseller's ticket of Richard S. Wormser, New York, on each rear pastedown (6)

Originally from the collection of Edward Steichen

Acquired by the current owner from the collection of Magnum photographer Erich Hartmann

Edward Steichen’s well-used set of 21 numbers of Camera Notes, bound into 6 green cloth volumes with the gilt Camera Club medallion, are in generally good condition. Overall the plates are in generally excellent condition, except as noted below. The green paper wrappers, most of which are bound in, have remained vibrant. There is occasional chipping, small losses, and wear to the edges of the mounts, tissue interleaves, and pages. Some of the pages and covers have become partially or completely detached. The bindings are in generally good condition, although the extremities are rubbed and the covers exhibit minor scuffing and abrasions. The heads and feet of the spines are chipped. 3 volumes exhibit what may by minor insect damage on the spines. Vol. 2, No. 1: -‘Ebony and Ivory’ by F. Holland Day appears in duplicate. One plate is bound and the other is detached. Vol. 2, No. 2: -‘Evening Near the Pyramids’ by Ernest R. Ashton is absent; substituted is the photogravure ‘Ely Cathedral’ by Frederick Henry Evans from CAMERA WORK, No. 4. The lower right corner of the plate appears to have been torn previously but is laid down. Vol. 3, No. 1: -‘Day’s Decline’ by A. Horsley Hinton is absent; substituted is the colored halftone ‘Moonlight’ by Arthur E. Becher from CAMERA WORK, No. 4. -‘Portrait Study’ by Gertrude Kasebier is absent; substituted is the halftone ‘Portrait—Mlle. D.’ by Robert Demachy from CAMERA WORK, No. 16. Vol. 3, No. 2: -‘Spring’ by Clarence White is absent; substituted is the halftone ‘Street in Lisieux’ by Robert Demachy from CAMERA WORK, No. 16. Vol. 3, No. 3: -‘La Cigale’ by E. J. Farnsworth is absent. Vol. 3, No. 4: -‘La Cigale’ by Frank Eugene: the plate has separated at the upper corners from the leaf, resulting in a small tear to the upper left corner of the image. -‘A Portrait’ by Frank Eugene is absent. Vol. 4, No. 1: -‘Blessed Art Thou Among Women’ by Gertrude Kasebier: the leaf is detached. -Page 3/4 is detached. Vol. 4, No. 2: -‘A Study’ by J. Wells Champney: the leaf is detached. -‘By the Wayside’ by Rudolf Eickemeyer is absent; substituted is the photogravure ‘In Certain Hope’ by Frederick Henry Evans from CAMERA WORK, No. 4. Some foxing is visible on the mount. Vol. 4, No. 3: -The front wrapper, frontispiece, and page 131/132 are detached. -‘Portrait of Alfred Stieglitz’ by Frank Eugene: the leaf is detached. -The upper right corner of pages 181, 215, and 228 are sharply creased. Vol. 5, No. 1: -‘Shylock-A Study’ by Joseph T. Keiley is absent. Vol. 5, No. 2: -‘An Icy Night’ by Alfred Stieglitz is absent. -‘September’ by Alfred Stieglitz: the plate is detached from the leaf. Vo. 5, No. 4: -‘Ploughing’ by Hugo Henneberg: there is a small loss along the right edge of the leaf.
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.

The present lot comprises Edward Steichen's own set of this important periodical, with annotations in pencil in his hand.  Several articles in which he is mentioned, and an article he himself wrote, 'The American School,' in Volume VI, Number 1, are marked or annotated by him.  Of special interest are his notations on the three installation photographs of the Photo-Secession exhibition at the Arts Club, New York, in 1902, also in Volume VI, Number 1, as well as his tally of the number of pictures each photographer contributed to the show.   

Camera Notes was edited by Alfred Stieglitz, Chairman of the Club's Publication Committee, from its inception in July 1897, with Volume I, Number 1, through July 1902, Volume VI, Number 1—the issues offered here.  As Camera Notes authority Christian Peterson has observed, 'During Stieglitz's five-year tenure as editor . . . there was no question as to the magazine's first-place position among American photographic periodicals' (Alfred Stieglitz's Camera Notes, p. 60).