Witkin, Lee D. Photographs: A Selected Offering. Catalogue VI. Witkin Gallery.

Witkin Gallery, 1978. Numerous photographs by noted photographers with prices. Appendix with pricing information about many additional photographers. Wraps, unpaginated, 5/8 inch thick. [Dealer's catalog from the height of the photography collecting boom in the 1970s. Includes list of photographers' portfolios with number of prints and prices in addition to single photographs illustrated. The photo by Minor White is printed upside down.] Like new.  Summary:

Published in 1978, Photographs: A Selected Offering (Catalogue VI) is a landmark sales and reference catalogue from the Witkin Gallery, which was the first commercially successful photographic gallery in New York City. Founded by Lee Witkin, the gallery played a crucial role in establishing photography as a collectible fine art, and this catalogue serves as a primary source for the market values and curatorial tastes of the late 1970s.

Content and Scope

The catalogue functions as a curated "mini-encyclopedia" of photographic history, offering a broad spectrum of work ranging from 19th-century pioneers to contemporary masters.

• 19th-Century Classics: The selection includes early masters of the medium, such as Julia Margaret Cameron, Hill & Adamson, and Roger Fenton, highlighting the gallery's commitment to the roots of photography.

• 20th-Century Giants: A significant portion of the catalogue is dedicated to the pillars of modernism, including Edward Weston, Ansel Adams, Imogen Cunningham, and Walker Evans.

• Contemporary Voices: The "Selected Offering" also features then-contemporary photographers who were gaining critical traction, such as Jerry Uelsmann, George Tice, and Joel Meyerowitz.

Key Features

• The Witkin Aesthetic: The catalogue reflects Lee Witkin’s personal philosophy—a belief that photography should be accessible, high-quality, and deeply humanistic.

• Technical Details: Each entry typically provides the title, date, print type (e.g., silver gelatin, platinum, or gravure), and dimensions, making it a valuable tool for provenance research.

• Market Snapshot: Historically, this volume is prized by collectors for the listed prices of the era, which provide a fascinating look at a time when vintage prints by masters were often available for a few hundred dollars.

Significance

Catalogue VI was more than a price list; it was an educational tool. At a time when few books on photographic history were in print, Witkin’s catalogues helped standardize the way photographs were described and valued.

Note: The Witkin Gallery catalogues are often considered "the bibles" of the early photography market, documenting the transition of the medium from the darkroom to the museum wall.