Duncan, David Douglas. Self-Portrait: U.S.A. by David Douglas Duncan.

Abrams, 1969. [Photographs of the 1968 political conventions of the Democratic and Republican parties at which Hubert Humphrey and Richard Nixon were nominated for U.S. President.] One page loose with old tape stains from an attempt to secure it, otherwise in very good condition.  High quality reproductions with rich black tones on heavy weight paper. Lacks dust jacket. Oversize, requires more postage than most items in my store.  Summary:

Self-Portrait: U.S.A. (1969) is a large-format photojournalistic landmark by veteran combat photographer and Lifemagazine photojournalist David Douglas Duncan. The book captures the deep social and political fissures of late-1960s America through a candid visual narrative of the 1968 presidential campaign.

Self-Portrait: U.S.A. (1969) is a large-format photojournalistic landmark by veteran combat photographer and Lifemagazine photojournalist David Douglas Duncan. The book captures the deep social and political fissures of late-1960s America through a candid visual narrative of the 1968 presidential campaign.

Key Details & Highlights

• Publisher & Format: Published by Harry N. Abrams in 1969, featuring 325 high-quality, black-and-white sheet-fed gravure photographs across 240 pages.

• Core Subject: Contrasts the two major 1968 political conventions—juxtaposing the polished, carnival-like atmosphere of the Republican National Convention in Miami Beach with the volatile, riotous Democratic National Convention in Chicago.

• Thematic Scope: Applies Duncan's visceral photojournalistic instincts to domestic turmoil. It features candid portraits of political figures, intense coverage of street violence and police clashes with student protesters in Chicago, and poignant portraits of wounded Vietnam War veterans at Great Lakes Naval Hospital.

• Significance: Functions as a raw, unfiltered visual reflection of a nation grappling with war, political polarization, and civil unrest at a pivotal moment in modern U.S. history.

David Douglas Duncan (1916–2018) was one of the most prominent American photojournalists of the 20th century, best known for his dramatic combat photography and intimate portraits of Pablo Picasso. Born in Kansas City, Missouri, Duncan began his career as a U.S. Marine Corps combat photographer during World War II before joining Life magazine, where he earned international acclaim for his raw, empathetic coverage of the Korean and Vietnam Wars—most notably compiled in his landmark book This Is War! (1951). Beyond military reporting, Duncan forged a close, decades-long friendship with Picasso, documenting the artist's private life across several celebrated photo books. Over a career spanning more than six decades, his immersive, unvarnished style left a lasting impact on documentary photojournalism.