An exceptionally rare and important photography portfolio by Beaumont Newhall, widely regarded as the father of photographic history

Published by the Lunn Gallery, Washington, D.C., in 1981, Beaumont Newhall: Photographs was issued in an extremely limited edition of only 50 numbered portfolios, plus 5 artist's proofs. While Newhall is best known as the pioneering curator of photography at the Museum of Modern Art and the author of the landmark volume The History of Photography, this portfolio offers collectors a rare opportunity to acquire a substantial body of his own photographic work.

The portfolio is complete and includes twelve mounted photographs: eleven gelatin silver prints and one dye-transfer color print, each individually signed in pencil by Beaumont Newhall on the mount. Subjects range from portraits of important photographic figures including Edward Weston, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Paul Strand, and Ansel Adams, to architectural studies, landscapes, and scenes from Newhall's international travels.

The portfolio's sole color image, Street Photographer, Chichicastenango, Guatemala, 1969, was produced as a dye-transfer print, one of the most admired and collectible color photographic processes of the twentieth century. Known for its remarkable color saturation, permanence, and technical complexity, the dye-transfer process has long been favored by museums and serious collectors.

Included are the original gray linen clamshell presentation box, title page, introductory materials, contents page, and colophon. The colophon confirms publication by the Lunn Gallery in an edition of only fifty numbered examples. This portfolio is numbered 23/50.

The photographs remain in exceptionally well-preserved condition, having been viewed only occasionally since publication. The mounts are clean and fresh, the prints display rich tonality, and the presentation box remains highly attractive. Complete examples are seldom encountered on the market, particularly in such well-preserved condition.

Among the portfolio's highlights are portraits of Edward Weston, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Paul Strand, and Ansel Adams...figures whose influence helped shape the history of twentieth-century photography. Their inclusion adds both historical significance and broad collecting appeal to this remarkable publication.

For collectors of photographic history, museum-quality photography, and important twentieth-century photography, this portfolio represents a significant opportunity to acquire a landmark publication by one of the medium's most influential scholars, curators, and photographers. Complete portfolios from this edition are rarely encountered, making this an outstanding offering for collectors, institutions, and photography enthusiasts alike.

Offered here at an opening bid of only $5,000...just over $415 per signed photograph...an exceptional value for a complete portfolio of this rarity and importance

Portfolio Number: 23/50
Publisher: Lunn Gallery, Washington, D.C.
Publication Date: 1981
Contents: Complete portfolio of 12 signed photographs (11 gelatin silver prints and 1 dye-transfer color print)
Print Sizes: Individual mounted photographs vary in size from approximately 8.5"x8.5" to 11"x8.5"

Signature: Signed under the images, with edition number on the back

Mounting: Mounted on 14"x18" mount board

Condition: Excellent overall condition

Online Information: https://ccp.arizona.edu/artists/beaumont-newhall/

Provenance: Recently consigned from a longtime West Coast collector, where it had been held for many years

Special Shipping Offer: In-house shipping is a flat $22.50 per order within the United States, whether you win one lot or several. Multiple purchases will be combined whenever possible at no additional charge.

Excellent condition