Schulthess, Emil. The Amazon by Emil Schulthess.

Simon and Schuster, 1962. 1st edition, 1st printing, near fine with moderate wear and soiling on spine. Illustrated boards, issued without dust jacket. Beautifully designed oblong book. [Another of the dozen or so large photo books, not including various editions and translations, by Swiss photographer Emil Schulthess (1913–1996), whose publications depict Europe, Asia, Africa, Antarctica, South America, and the United States.]   Summary:

The Amazon by Emil Schulthess is a definitive, mid-century photographic monograph and geographic survey published in 1962 (with English editions by Simon & Schuster). The volume documents a highly ambitious, eight-month expedition led by Schulthess along the entire length of the Amazon River, from its high-altitude Andean sources in Peru down to its massive Atlantic delta in Brazil.

The publication is celebrated for its technical mastery and its early, comprehensive look at the complex ecosystems and human geography of the Amazon basin.

Key Overview and Objectives

• An Epic Geographic Chronicle: Schulthess aimed to create a complete visual taxonomy of the world's largest river system. Supported by various South American governments and scientific bodies, his expedition utilized airplanes, boats, and overland vehicles to map out terrains that were largely inaccessible to the public at the time.

• Ecological and Anthropological Record: The book balances raw, uncharted geography with an intimate look at the indigenous populations, settlers, and emerging industries that relied on the river for survival.

Core Themes and Visual Style

• The Scale of the Wilderness: Schulthess utilizes sweeping aerial photography and wide panorama shots to convey the staggering scale of the Amazon rainforest and the labyrinthine network of its tributaries. His imagery captures the dense canopy, flooding riverbanks, and dramatic weather patterns of the equatorial climate.

• Indigenous and Riverine Communities: A major focus of the volume is its respectful, documentary-style portraiture of indigenous tribes and ribeirinhos (traditional riverbank fishermen). The photographs detail daily survival, hunting practices, architecture, and spiritual traditions without resorting to exoticism.

• The Encroachment of Modernity: The book subtly captures the early stages of modern industrial encroachment on the rainforest. Images of remote rubber-tapping stations, gold mining camps, and pioneering frontier towns contrast sharply with the ancient, untouched rhythms of the surrounding jungle.

• Technical Rigor: True to Schulthess's signature style, the book features crisp, high-contrast black-and-white images alongside rich, early color plates. His work is noted for its clean compositions and an incredible ability to capture fine textures—such as the sheen of water, dense foliage, and human skin—under challenging tropical lighting conditions.