Eric Chaim Kline, Bookseller - Old and Rare Books

Omaggio Della Societa FILM. Fabbriche Riunite Prodotti Fotografici, Cappelli Ferrania (A Tribute From the FILM Company. United Factories of Photographic Products, Cappelli-Ferrania) [COMPLETE w/ 40 PLATES]

[Bestetti, Emilio] (publisher, ed.)

Milan: Emilio Bestetti Edizioni d'Arte, [ca. 1933]. First edition. Hardcover. Folio. 40 loose plates. Tan cloth portfolio with decorative gilt and silver tooling and ruling. Metal portfolio clamps. Interior of the portfolio with cloth sleeve similarly decorated and lettered gilt and silver, housing the plates. 40 loose un-numbered photographic plates. The first plate of Mussolini's silhouette is preceded by a blank leaf with circular die-cut window.

This scarce photographic portfolio was issued to promote and commemorate the recent merger of the two Milanese photographic film companies, Cappelli and Ferrania.* The collection contains 40 b/w photographic plates, finely printed in gravure, on lightweight tissue paper, tipped on to heavy stock tan paper leaves. Each leaf measures 9 1/2 x 13", with area of the printed image varying from print to print, although many measure 7 1/2x 10 1/2". In terms of content, the images comprise a wide range of subjects, including landscapes, still lifes, studio portraits, street photography, ethnographic images and natural subjects, most likely all Italian. The one notable exception is a shot of the New York skyline. The one striking shot of Mussolini delivering a speech in silhouette is the only overtly political image, which would signal this is a product of Fascist Italy. All images are shot with a great eye for framing, lighting and composition, presumably using the company's film stocks and/or cameras, although no photographers are credited.

Portfolio with some foxing and water stains. Some plates with foxing, mostly sporadic and fairly light. Many images are quite clean. Initial die-cut blank leaf sunned on one side. Portfolio in good, plates in good to near fine condition overall. g to near fine. Item #55469

Alternate title: FILM (Fabbrica Italiana Lamine Milano)

No copies listed on OCLC.

*Although undated, the portfolio was likely published during the period shortly after the merger of the Cappelli and Ferrania companies in November of 1932. From that point onward the merged company was known as Cappelli-Ferrania, until 1938 when the name was reverted to just Ferrania.

Price: $450.00