Lot 323: WALTER CHAPPELL

WALTER CHAPPELL 1925-2000 'GESTURES OF INFINITY' (Rochester: self-published, 1957, a proposed edition of 25), a book of 23 mounted photographs, with accompanying printed text by Chappell and introduction by Minor White, 1954-57, printed in 1957. Small folio, accordion-bound Strathmore boards, covers signed, titled, and dated in ink, a 'Photography Collection of the Polaroid Corporation' label, with typed title, credit, and accession information on the front pastedown, signed and editioned '#VI' of 25 in ink on the rear pastedown, accompanied by a fragment of a cardboard box with a Wittenborn and Company, New York, mailing label addressed to Chappell, and a Polaroid Collection label on the reverse The plates various sizes to 7 1/2 by 9 1/2 in. (19.1 by 24.1 cm.)

Peter C. Bunnell and Robert Creeley, Walter Chappell: Vintage Photographs, 1954 - 1978 (Roth Horowitz, 2000), p. 4

Acquired from the photographer in January 1958 for the Library Collection

This extremely scarce book was created when Walter Chappell lived in Rochester, New York, and studied with Minor White. It is believed that only eight copies of the projected edition of 25 exist, due to the photographer's Wingdale (Rochester) studio fire in 1961.