Signed; Martin Parr - Luxury - 2009

Rare exemplar of the original edition published in Great Britain in 2009, signed on the half-title page by Martin Parr (1952-2025). Not to be confused with the edition published in the United States the following year (Janet Borden, 2010). 112 pages and 83 full-page colour photographs, some double-page, introduction in English by the great fashion designer and Martin Parr admirer, Paul Smith. Faux-leather padded binding with the title hot-stamped in gold on the cover and spine. In excellent condition, practically as new.

“With photography, I like to create fiction from reality. I try to achieve this by subverting society’s natural prejudices,” explains British photographer Martin Parr. For Parr, luxury is the epitaph of the era of ostentatious consumption, captured through candid images of the wealthy bourgeoisie at international gatherings: champagne-soaked lunches, horse racing, the Moscow Millionaire’s Fair, Dubai Art Fair, and the Beijing Auto Show, to name just a few. Documenting the trends, tastes, and manners of the bourgeoisie—diamond-encrusted jewelry, pedigreed puppies, race cars, abundant sofas, and empty champagne bottles—Parr succeeds in capturing both monotony and excess, while humanizing the scene. “Parr’s perspective and mobile viewpoint resemble those of a housefly,” writes critic Neal Brown, describing the photographer’s style as “buzzing around heads, landing on the edges of plates and display cases, and perceiving everything as a wonderfully enlarged and over-saturated world.” Magnificently designed, this volume is the perfect memento of the era preceding the collapse of the 2008 financial bubble.

Book from my personal collection, in excellent condition, practically like new, kept with the utmost care. Very effective protected shipping and international tracking guaranteed. For multiple purchases, group shipping is possible with reimbursement of any overpaid postage via Paypal.

0.850 kg. excluding packaging.