David Galjaard - Concresco - 2012

David Galjaard - Concresco (Special Edition - No. 25/26 - Print 1) - First edition (2012) - Including the original photo print and handmade Special Edition case - absolutely mint condition. Including the original shipping envelope.

An exceptional opportunity for collectors of rare museum-quality photobooks. Offered is a highly scarce Special Edition of the globally acclaimed photobook 'Concresco' (2012) by Dutch photographer David Galjaard.

This is number 25 out of an extremely limited edition of only 26 copies worldwide that are equipped with 'Print 1'.

Status and condition:

The cardboard shipping envelope and the tissue paper have been opened solely to take these photos for the auction. The book itself is unopened and unread. Both the book and the accompanying loose art print and the Special Edition case are in absolute MINT / new condition; completely free of signs of use, creases, or UV discoloration.

About the book:

• Design: An award-winning and sublime book design by Katie McGonigal. The bright red cover (a direct reference to the Albanian flag) features an ingenious blind-embossing (preeg). This embossing consists of tactile, braille-like bumps that together form the exact geographic outline of Albania. The bumps symbolize the massive presence of bunkers in the landscape. The book uses an open Swiss binding. The cardboard Special Edition case is fully handmade and silkscreened.

• The Exclusive Print (Print 1): This edition contains the original, loose c-print (approximately 24 x 30 cm) of the depicted Albanian street scene with the iconic concrete bunker on the left side. The print is signed, numbered, and stamped by the photographer on the reverse.

Media and Publications:

• Martin Parr / Gerry Badger Reference: This book is officially included and discussed in the leading reference work 'The Photobook: A History Volume III' (pp. 210-211). This underscores the historical and artistic value within contemporary photography.

• Award: Winner of, among others, the prestigious Paris Photo / Aperture Foundation First Photobook Award in 2012.

• International acclaim: Concresco received worldwide widespread praise and was published, discussed, and acclaimed in leading international media, including TIME Magazine (Best Photobooks of the Year), Aperture, WIRED, Le Monde, The British Journal of Photography, GUP Magazine and The Irish Times.

About the content:

Out of fear of a foreign attack, the Albanian Stalinist leader Enver Hoxha ordered the construction of about 750,000 above-ground bunkers during his regime, from 1945 until his doom in 1985. Today, their massive presence seems to impress outsiders more than anything. The Albanians themselves prefer to look toward the future.
Within this series, the bunkers serve as a guide to give a sense of the development of a country that was the last in Europe to distance itself from communism and began its difficult journey to join the capitalist West.

The shown photographs are an integral part of the description.

The item will be packed with the utmost care and shipped fully insured.