Robert Frank

signed in ink in the margin, with date in pencil on the reverse, 1961, printed in the 1980s (The Lines of My Hand, unpaginated; Lonesome Traveler, cover [reversed])

Gift of the photographer to the present owner

This print, on double-weight paper with a surface sheen, is in generally excellent condition. When examined in raking light, the following are visible overall: some tiny deposits of retouching, likely original; scattered faint surface scratches and linear impressions; and a few sharp handling creases. None of the above appears to break the emulsion or detracts from the overall fine appearance of this photograph. The photographer's signature in the margin is smudged. The left and right margin edges are faintly rippled. The margin corners are bumped, and there is a sharp crease which appears to break the emulsion across the lower right margin corner.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

This photograph illustrated the cover of the 1970 paperback edition of Lonesome Traveler by Jack Kerouac, a collection of short stories and sketches.  Kerouac and Frank first met in 1957 on a New York sidewalk, and would go on to significantly influence each other's work.  Kerouac wrote the introduction for the 1959 publication of Frank's groundbreaking photobook The Americans (1958).  The two later collaborated on Frank’s first film Pull My Daisy, adapted from a play by Kerouac.  More recently, this image appeared in the liner notes for The Jack Kerouac Collection, a spoken word album that was issued in 1990.