Newhall, Beaumont. Photography: A Short Critical History, 1839-1937.

NY: Museum of Modern Art, 1938. One of 3,000 copies. Second revised edition of Newhall's 1937 history of photography, entitled Photography, 1839-1937, issued as the catalog for the survey exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art, for which Newhall was unable to get the participation of Alfred Stieglitz. Stieglitz was pleased with Newhall's curatorial efforts and the 1938 edition includes a frontispiece by Stieglitz, whose late endorsement of Newhall had long-term effects on the historiography of photography. Newhall's book was revised again several more times in future decades, with the third and subsequent editions titled, The History of Photography. As the second edition of of Newhall's first book, with important changes, this volume is of singular importance in the literature of photography. Moderate wear at spine tips, otherwise fine. Lacks the scarce dust jacket.