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ANSEL ADAMS (1902-1984) Portfolio Four: "What Majestic Word, In Memory of Russell Varian." 1963.

ANSEL ADAMS (1902-1984)
Portfolio Four: "What Majestic Word, In Memory of Russell Varian." 1963.
Complete with 15 beautiful photographs of landscapes and details of the natural world. Silver prints, the images measuring 6¾x8 7/8 to 10x12¾ inches (17.1x22.5 to 25.4x32.4 cm.), and the reverse, the mounts 14x18 inches (35.6x45.7 cm.), each with Adams' signature in ink on mount recto, and the portfolio label with the printed title and publisher and set number 130 in ink on mount verso; each print housed in a printed folder. Folio, gray gilt-lettered four-fold linen case; with the edition number 130 in ink on the colophon; contents loose as issued. ONE OF AN EDITION OF 260 COPIES. San Francisco: Sierra Club.

Provenance
The Collection of Neil Robert Berzak

Dunes, Oceano, California * Vernal Falls, Yosemite Valley, California * Northern California Coast Redwoods * Teklanika River, Mount McKinley National Park, Alaska * Sequoia Roots, Mariposa Grove, Yosemite National Park, California * Leaf, Glacier Bay National Monument, Alaska * Cathedral Peak and Lake, Yosemite National Park, California * Clearing Storm, Sonoma County Hills, California * Oak Tree, Sunset City, Sierra Foothills, California * Castle Rock, Summit Road Above Saratoga, California * Orchard, Early Spring, Near Stanford University, California * Siesta Lake, Yosemite National Park, California * Storm Surf, Timber Cove, California * Tuolumne Meadows, Yosemite National Park, California * Sierra Nevada, Winter Evening, From the Owens Valley, California

  • Condition: Ansel Adams' "Portfolio Four: What Majestic Word, In Memory of Russell Varian" (1963) is in overall nearly excellent condition. The prints are lustrous, rich, and replete with the precise and luminous details Adams is known for. Featuring both majestic landscapes and intimate, jewel-like details, the portfolio showcases the range of Adams' work.

    Details for each print are as follows:
    I. Teklanika River, Mount McKinley National Park, Alaska: excellent

    II. Sequoia Roots, Mariposa Grove, Yosemite National Park, California: There is an exceptionally soft and discrete mark near the lower edge, likely a result of or present prior to mounting. This is only apparent in strong, raking light.

    III. Leaf, Glacier Bay National Monument, Alaska: excellent

    IV. Dunes, Oceano, California: excellent

    V. Cathedral Peak and Lake, Yosemite National Park, California: A short shallow impression can be found in the upper left quadrant, but only in raking light. This is minor.

    VI. Vernal Falls, Yosemite Valley, California: excellent

    VII. Clearing Storm, Sonoma County Hills, California: excellent

    VIII. Oak Tree, Sunset City, Sierra Foothills, California: This print is nearly excellent, with just one short shallow impression visible in raking light only within the lower tree branches. This is minor and nearly completely obscured by the image itself.

    IX. Castle Rock, Summit Road Above Saratoga, California: excellent

    X. Northern California Coast Redwoods: excellent

    XI. Orchard, Early Spring, Near Stanford University, California: excellent

    XII. Siesta Lake, Yosemite National Park, California: excellent

    XIII. Storm Surf, Timber Cove, California: This print is very good, with a couple very superficial and shallow impressions near the center, and one very slight and soft mark near the right center edge (again certainly there prior to or as a result of mounting).

    XIV. Tuolumne Meadows, Yosemite National Park, California: excellent

    XV. Sierra Nevada, Winter Evening, From the Owens Valley, California: excellent

    Each print is mounted, and these too are overall bright, neat, and clean, with just a very slight suggestion of warming at the mount edges (as can be typical). Each with Adams' neat signature in ink on mount recto and the portfolio label with the printed title and publisher and set number 130 in ink on mount verso. Each print is enclosed in a printed paper folder. These show scattered faint prints from handling, and slight warming at the edges, consistent with their age.

    With two copies of the colophon, each with the edition number also in red ink. Enclosed in the gray four-fold case, this slighlty edgeworn. The ties are also lightly worn, and the rear partially perished.

    Overall an exceptional example of this important set.

    Provenance: The Collection of Neil Robert Berzak


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December 17, 2024 12:00 PM EST
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