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a book with a picture of a red and blue object on itseveral people standing around a table in a room with a large window
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Estimate €500 - €750
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Description
Photography Cartier-Bresson, Henri Les Européens. Photographies. (Published by Tériade (i.e. Stratis Eleftheriadis) and Marguerite Lang). With 114 duotone plates, some double-page in size, in heliogravure. Paris, Éditions Verve (1955). 6 pp. and 114 duotone plates, some double-page in size, in heliogravure. Folio. Colour-illustrated original hardback (by Joan Miró) (somewhat rubbed in places, minor damage to the edges of the cover). First edition, French-language edition (an English-language edition was also published under the title *The Europeans*, Simon & Schuster, New York 1955). *Les Européens* is Henri Cartier-Bresson’s second major photobook and was published three years after his legendary debut *Images à la sauvette* (1952), with which it shares the same format and which was also published by Tériade and Verve, featuring cover illustrations by renowned artists such as Matisse, Miró and Léger. The volume brings together 114 photographs taken by Cartier-Bresson between 1950 and 1955 in ten European countries – on commission for Harper’s Bazaar, Life, Holiday and Paris Match. The images depict the everyday lives of ordinary people in post-war Europe, characterised by reconstruction, ruins and the still-visible traces of war and deprivation. The layout and image composition are by Tériade and Marguerite Lang, whilst the artistically designed cover was created specifically by Joan Miró. *The Photobook: A History* describes *Les Européens* as one of the greatest achievements of the genre after *The Decisive Moment*, the classic work of street photography and photojournalism from the 1950s. Included: original photograph (silver gelatine, 17.5 x 16 cm) showing four men in conversation in a museum or studio, stamped on the reverse by the photographer: ‘Henri Cartier-Bresson, Magnum Photos Inc., New York’. A fine copy. Photography. – With 114 duotone gravure plates, some double-page. Paris, Éditions Verve (1955). 6 pp. and 114 duotone gravure plates, some double-page. Folio. Colour-illustrated original boards (by Joan Miró). First edition, French-language edition (an English-language edition was also published under the title *The Europeans*, Simon & Schuster, New York, 1955). *Les Européens* is Henri Cartier-Bresson’s second major photobook, appearing three years after his legendary debut *Images à la sauvette* (1952), with which it shares the same format and which was likewise published by Tériade and Verve, featuring cover illustrations by celebrated artists such as Matisse, Miró and Léger. The volume brings together 114 photographs taken by Cartier-Bresson between 1950 and 1955 in ten European countries – whilst on assignment for *Harper’s Bazaar*, *Life*, *Holiday* and *Paris Match*. The images depict the everyday life of ordinary people in post-war Europe, characterised by reconstruction, ruins, and the still-visible traces of war and deprivation. The layout and image editing are by Tériade and Marguerite Lang, whilst the artistically designed binding was specially created by Joan Miró. The Photobook: A History describes *Les Européens* as one of the genre’s greatest achievements following *The Decisive Moment*, a classic of street photography and photojournalism from the 1950s. Also included is an original photograph (silver gelatine, 17.5 x 16 cm) showing four men in conversation in a museum or studio, the reverse stamped with the photographer’s stamp “Henri Cartier-Bresson, Magnum Photos Inc., New York”. Good condition. This lot is subject to standard tax. A 24.95% buyer’s premium is payable on the hammer price, and 7% (Books and Art) or 19% VAT (Manuscripts, Screenprints, Offset Prints, Photographs) is payable on the final invoice amount within the European Union. This lot is subject to the standard tax regime. A 24.95% buyer’s premium applies to the hammer price, and 7% (books and art) or 19% VAT (manuscripts, screen prints, offset prints and photographs) applies to the final invoice amount within the European Union.
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About the sale Valuable books, prints, historical photographs
Auction location
Auction time 10/24/2026 at 10:00 AM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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