The Harlem Book of the Dead
Dobbs Ferry, NY: Morgan & Morgan, Inc., 1978.
First edition, first printing. Number 42 of 60 copies, signed by James Van der Zee, Owen Dodson and Camille Billops on the front pastedown dated 11/12/78. [viii], 85 pp. Bound in publisher's brown cloth lettered in gilt. Near Fine with light wear at spine ends and corners, small ink stain at right edge of front free endpaper, and light toning to contents. In a Near Fine unclipped dust jacket with a few small closed tears to edges, crease and spot of age staining at bottom corner of front flap, and miniscule stain to base of spine at verso. Throughout his legendary career as a Harlem Renaissance portrait photographer, James Van Der Zee documented life and, in these instances, death. A unique and poignant monograph of funerary portraits that draw the viewer into a sorrowful pageantry of loved ones lost. Each portrait is seamlessly paired with an allegorical persona poem written in a fictitious voice of the dead. Rare in the signed limited hardcover edition.
Price: $2,000