MAN RAY; PERET, Benjamin and ARAGON, [Louis]. 1929. [Brussels: Éditions de la Revue Variétés, 1929].

(MAN RAY; PERET, Benjamin and ARAGON, [Louis]).
1929.
[Brussels: Éditions de la Revue Variétés, 1929].

Small folio (303 x 204 mm), pp.[28]. 4 erotic photolithographs by Man Ray tipped in. Uncut in the original light grey wrappers, ‘1929’ printed in black to front. One of 160 copies on Montval paper from a total edition of 215, this copy numbered 102. Housed in custom made chemise and slipcase. A fine, exceptionally well preserved copy.

First edition of these eroto-surrealist poems by two of the leading lights of the movement, edited by André Breton and startlingly illustrated by Man Ray’s explicit photographs which allegedly show himself with Kiki de Montparnasse. It seems to have been sold to raise funds for Edouard Mesens so that he could finance the printing of his Belgian avant-garde magazine Variétés. 'It has been said that Man Ray's career began with pornography. Certainly, like all the Surrealists, he had a fondness for the genre, and many Surrealist livres d'artistes have been products of a pornographic imagination - but never quite so blatantly or unmediated as here.' (The Photobook). Most of the copies are reported to have been seized by French customs officials. A rare book, particularly in such fine condition.

Ades, D., Dada and Surrealism Reviewed, London 1978 (9.101); Pia, P., Les livres de l’Enfer, Paris 1998 (937); Dutel, J.-P., Bibliographie des ouvrages érotiques, vol.II, Paris 2002-05 (1986); The Photobook: A History vol.II 138; 802 photo books from the Auer collection 138