The Lines of my Hand

Frank, Robert. The Lines of my Hand. New York: Lustrum Press, 1972. First edition. Small Folio. Unpaginated. Original illustrated stiff wraps with black lettering on cover and spine. Cover by June Leaf. Printed by Tom Jones, Los Angeles, typography by ACC, Los Angeles.

“After The Americans, The Lines of My Hand is arguably Robert Frank’s most important book and without doubt the publication that established his autobiographical, sometimes confessional, approach to bookmaking. The book was originally published by Yugensha in Tokyo in 1972, and this new Steidl edition, made in close collaboration with Robert Frank, follows and updates the first US edition by Lustrum Press of 1972.

The Lines of My Hand is structured chronologically and presents selections from every stage of Frank’s work until 1972—from early photos in Switzerland in 1945–46, to images of his travels in Peru, Paris, Valencia, London and Wales, and to contact sheets from his 1955–56 journey through the US that resulted in The Americans and made him famous. Here too are intimate photos of Frank’s young family, later photo-collages and stills from films including Pull My Daisy (1959) and About Me: A Musical (1971). This structure itself mirrors the rhythm of Frank’s life but it is his short personal texts, like diary entries, that fully bring his voice into the book.” (Steidl)

Some wear along edges of wraps, some chipping at head and tail of spine. Light creasing at top foredge corner and middle of top back cover. Some rubbing of covers and lightly starting at inside front cover. Very light foxing of half-title and title pages. Some light foxing of back free endpaper, and light staining of the last three leaves due to water exposure. Good- condition. Softcover. (53432) $75