presentation copy inscribed to Ralph Gibson

Presentation copy, inscribed to photographer and founder of Lustrum Press Ralph Gibson:

'For Ralph and Mary Jane / un grande abraco / xo Bruce Weber / 1990'

Bruce Weber's elegant paean to Rio interweaves portraits, still life, and landscape photographs with an extended study of Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu champion Rickson Gracie, whose father Helio was one of four brothers who opened the first Jiu-Jitsu academy in Brazil. Carlos, the eldest brother, had learnt the martial art from Esai Maeda, who had emigrated from Japan to Brazil in 1914.

First edition, presentation copy inscribed to Ralph Gibson; 4to (367 x 281 mm, 14½ x 11 in); 130 black-and-white and colour photographs by Bruce Weber, drawings by Richard Giglio, printed in offset, design by Sam Shahid, Rïse Daniels, and Donald Sterzin; photo-illustrated adhesive-bound card covers, lightly marked, near-fine; [196]pp (incl. 4 folding).

The Book of 101 Books: Seminal Photographic Books of the Twentieth Century pp254-5.