“HIS IRONY IS THE EDGE OF A SWORD”

KLEIN, William. William Klein. Pour la liberte de la presse. (Paris: Reporters sans frontières, November 2001). Octavo, original stiff photographic wrappers. $1500.

Vintage November 2001 issue of Reporters sans frontières (Reporters without Borders), a special issue dedicated to William Klein, boldly inscribed by him with black felt pen on the half title, “All best from William Klein sans Frontières…William Klein,” featuring over 50 photogravure plates, concluding with a double-page image of New York City, dated by Klein-“September 18, 2001.”

Commemorating the work of William Klein and that of Reporters sans frontières, this special edition of the organization's annual magazine-with a history dedicated to protecting freedom of the press worldwide-features over 50 photogravures by Klein. As publisher Robert Delpire writes within, "William Klein is something else… His irony is the edge of a sword." Concluding the series of images is a haunting double-page cityscape of New York, inserted at the last minute by the photographer. In his caption Klein notes, "September 18th 2001, this book is on the way to the printer. For an epilogue was added the photo which concluded my 1955 book Life is good and good for you in New York. Le Corbusier wrote 'New York is a catastrophy but a grand and beautiful catastrophy [sic].' I could only agree. But for me the great Big Apple was also always on the verge of exploding. Well, it has. W.K." Text in French and English. With essays by Klein, publisher Delpire and Christine Ockrent (RSF board member).

A fine copy, quite scarce inscribed.