Robert Frank

A signed first edition of New York Is by Robert Frank, previously owned by Frank's publisher, Motomura Kazuhiko.

• Robert Frank (American, 1924-2019).
• Introduction by Gilbert Millstein.
• [New York]: [New York Times Company], [1959].
• Quarto.
• 56 pages.
• Signed in black ink on verso of front free endpaper.
• Black and white photographs.
• Black front and red rear endpapers, printed paper-covered boards, white, titles in black, in Motomura Kazuhiko's card sleeve titled in black ink on upper side.

Motomura Kazuhiko's copy, signed by Robert Frank.

Robert Frank's scarcest book, signed: 'Robert Frank / N.Y.C. March 27. 96.' New York Is was published between Les Americains (1958) and The Americans (1959).

Frank supported himself at this time with sporadic commercial work for supportive art directors, including Cipe Pineles at Charm magazine, Alexey Brodovitch at Harper's Bazaar, and Lou Silverstein at The New York Times. When Lou Silverstein died in 2011, Robert Frank sent a note to his memorial service saying, 'He gave me moral support as well as financial – and this made my life in New York City possible.'

New York Is gathers a series of print advertisements featuring photographs by Robert Frank for a campaign run by The New York Times to target and attract prospective advertisers. Frank's photographs are paired with advertising copy extolling the city's virtues, each ending with the line 'New York is The New York Times. New Yorkers live by it. It serves them with the most news. It sells them with the most advertising.'