Arcana:

(JAMES, DON). James, Don. Santa Barbara, CA: T. Adler Books, 2004. First Edition 1/500. Oblong 4to. Loose Plates in a Portfolio. Photography Monograph. As New/No Jacket - As Issued. Four individual 4 ½ x 6 ¾" black and white photographic reproductions hinged on archival mat board, housed in a box with a pastedown. Designed by Tom Adler. Published as a labor of love by noted graphic designer Tom Adler, this is the beautifully produced third portfolio (of five) of pioneering waterman and photographer Don James' nostalgic views of the apparent paradise that was Southern California surf culture in the thirties. It reproduces a series of shots of Bluff Cove surf riders taken by James over the summer of 1937 from a Brownie camera set up in the sand to the rather narrow focal point of the breaking waves. Limited to five hundred copies only, each of the five deluxe editions contains four different archival prints reproduced from the original negatives found in Don James' studio shortly after his death in 1996. The images are printed as continuous tone, with soy-based UV inks on 100% cotton rag, acid-free paper. Each print is mounted on an acid-free four-ply board with a numbered certificate of authenticity, and enclosed in a glassine sleeve. A brand new, pristine example still in the publisher's shrink wrap, as issued. 1-890481-12-2 Inventory Number: 009664