Title: A Day Off
Author: Tony Ray-Jones
Published: 1974
Publisher: New York Graphic Society’
First edition/first impression (‘First United States edition’); US; paperback original (as published)

Very Good+: a bit of curling at right hand edge of front cover, foxing to edge of half-title page only, some yellowing to exterior of text block

The first book by English photographer Tony Ray-Jones, which was unfinished at the time of his death in 1972 (at the age of only 30), and published posthumously. An examination of the English and Englishness, with sections on The Seaside, Summer Carnivals, Dancers, London and Society. 120 black & white plates, with an introduction by Ainslie Ellis. Although there was a hardback edition published in Britain by Thames & Hudson, I am pretty sure that in the States this book was only ever issued in softback.

Influenced by Bill Brandt, amongst others, and a huge influence himself upon a new generation of British photographers, Ray-Jones’ importance in the history of photography is only now fully being recognised, with a recent exhibition at the Science Museum and the National Media Museum. Tony Ray Jones was an enormous influence upon Martin Parr, who selected Ray Jones photographs for this exhibition, and co-exhibited his own photographs alongside.

Ray-Jones' archive has been housed at the National Media Museum in Bradford since 1993. It consists of 700 photographic prints, 1,700 negative sheets, 2,700 contact sheets, 10,000 colour transparencies and Ray-Jones' notebooks and correspondence.

Any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask, and please take a look at my other rare & collectable books for sale.

Postage is £9.40 within UK (Royal Mail 1pm Special Delivery). Please ask before bidding for international postage rates.