Printletter No. 37, January/February 1982, Vol. 7, No.1. L. Fritz Gruber, Irving Penn, et al.

International Forum for Fine Art Photography (Zurich). Edited by Marco Misani and Inge Bondi. Profusely illustrated with fine photos. Includes reviews of the 2nd New York Photo Fair and the 10th Anniversary of Galerie Wilde in Cologne, Germany, interview with collector L. Fritz Gruber, portfolio of photographer Kozo Miyoshi, and other brief articles and reviews. Cover photo by Ernest Franssens. Other photos by Jaschi Klein, Jean Dieuzaide, Barry Pringle, Alvin Langdon Coburn, Albert Renger-Patzsch, Irving Penn (portrait of Gruber), Man Ray, Herbert Tobias, Eva Rubinstein, Alfred Ehrhardt, Lee Friedlander, Faurest Davis, Max Yavno, et al. Glossy wraps, 42 pages. Near fine with a few light crimps and slight bend in bottom right corner. Summary: 

Printletter No. 37 (January/February 1982, Vol. 7, No. 1) is an issue of the influential bimonthly international newsletter published in Zurich, Switzerland. Founded and edited by Marco Misani, with regular contributions from noted photography critic and writer Inge Bondi, the publication served as a vital, multilingual forum (published primarily in English, German, and French) tracking the global market, institutional shifts, and critical discourse surrounding fine art photography.

Key Content & Industry Insights

1. The Global Photography Market and Galleries

As a dedicated trade and critical journal for the fine art photography community, this issue provides a snapshot of the gallery system and market conditions at the start of 1982. It tracks emerging gallery spaces, exhibition schedules, print prices, and the evolving commercial viability of contemporary photography across Europe and North America.

2. International Information Exchange

True to its designation as an international forum, the issue bridges the gap between disparate regional photography scenes. It features comprehensive listings of upcoming portfolio reviews, museum acquisitions, international photo festivals, and grants, acting as a crucial networking tool for photographers, curators, and print collectors before the digital era.

3. Critical Debates and Publishing Trends

The issue includes focused commentary and reviews on contemporary photography books, limited-edition portfolios, and critical theory. Editors Marco Misani and Inge Bondi offer sharp insights into the aesthetic shifts of the period, documenting the transition of photography from an alternative medium into a fully institutionalized fine art form.

Printletter remains a primary historical resource for researching the structural boom of the photography world during the late 1970s and 1980s. Issue No. 37 exemplifies the publication's role in establishing rigorous reporting standards for print collecting, gallery operations, and transnational artistic dialogue.