Robert Capa / Irwin Shaw - Report on Israel - 1950

This rare first edition documentary photobook by legendary photojournalist and war photographer Robert Capa, documents the then newly founded state of Israel. With the outbreak of hostilities in 1948, Capa travelled to Israel to witness and photograph the ceremony of the declaration of the State and the War of Independence. Over the following two years, Capa revisited Israel a number of times to document the waves of immigration, the transit camps, and the deep uncertainty facing the new-born Jewish nation.

Subjects ranging from politicians and military leaders, to new immigrants, farmers and the Ultra-orthodox community are all featured. The images presented here are closer and more familiar than much of than Capa’s earlier work, perhaps because he himself, having fled Hungary for Berlin and Paris, was a symbol of the wandering, driven and desperate Jewish Diaspora.

By the time this work was published, Robert Capa was at the height of his career and had already founded Magnum Photos in 1947.

Condition:
Very good. This is a very rare first edition copy. Cover worn in many places and folds at edges of the front cover. Previous owner's name on first page. Old bookseller label from New York on last page. Tiny tear to edge of last page. Small dent to top corner of spine that affects some pages. Please examine listing photos carefully for condition.