Nakahira, Takuma, Daido Moriyama, et al. | Provoke 1-3, first editions

Nakahira, Takuma, Daido Moriyama, et al. 

Provoke: Shiso no tame no chohatsuteki shiryo [Provoke: Provocative Materials for Thought]

Comprising: Provoke 1. Tokyo: Provoke-sha, 1 November 1968. Square 4to (210 x 210 mm). Signed by Takanashi. Halftone photographs. White printed wrappers; lightly soiled and rubbed, scattered creasing. — Provoke 2.Tokyo: Provoke-sha, 10 March 1969. 4to (242 x 180 mm) Signed by Moriyama & Takanashi. Halftone photographs. Grey printed wrappers with yellow obi; wrappers lightly scuffed and soiled, obi creased with rubbing to folds. — Provoke 3.Tokyo: Provoke-sha, 10 August 1969. 4to (239 x 185 mm). Signed by Takanashi. Halftone photographs. Red printed wrappers; a few scuffs, corners lightly bumped.

First editions. The most important publication of the Japanese avant-garde.

"Japan in the 1960s and early 70s marks a highpoint in the history of the photobook ... The iconoclastic photo-magazine Provoke had a vital influence on Japanese photography and the Japanese photobook. It was an influence, one might contend, that was out of all proportion to the mere three issues published during its short, hectic existence at the end of the 1960s." (The Photobook).

REFERENCE:

The Photobook, vol. I, pp. 267-270

PROVENANCE:

Fine Photobooks From An Important Private Collection (Christie's New York, 10 April 2008, lot 133)