Himalayas
Yoshikazu Shirakawa
New York: Harry N. Abrams, 1971. First American Edition.
Description:
A stunning photographic journey across the roof of the world by acclaimed Japanese photographer Yoshikazu Shirakawa. This monumental folio presents a vivid visual record of the Himalayas through 134 full-color plates—an extraordinary achievement in landscape photography.
Includes a foreword by His Majesty King Mahendra of Nepal, lending a rare sovereign perspective to the spiritual and geopolitical significance of the Himalayas.
With a preface by British historian Arnold Toynbee and an introduction by legendary mountaineer Sir Edmund Hillary, the volume blends photographic excellence with thoughtful historical and cultural context. Shirakawa’s deep reverence for the region is evident in every composition, capturing the sacred geography, human spirit, and grandeur of the world’s highest peaks.
Printed in Japan to exacting standards and issued by Harry N. Abrams in their classic oversize folio format, this first American edition is housed in the original black cloth clamshell box with bold gilt and white lettering. The book itself is bound in coarse oatmeal linen with matching typography to the case. Text in English.
Details:
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Folio (approx. 15 x 11 inches)
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Bound in publisher’s natural linen cloth
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Clamshell presentation box with printed titles
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Printed in Japan
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ISBN: 0810901233
Condition:
A very good to fine copy. The interior is clean and crisp, with no markings or foxing to pages. Binding tight and sound. Cloth covers sharp with only minimal toning along the edges. The clamshell case shows moderate shelfwear and rubbing along the edges, with a few small nicks and scuffs typical of age.
Notes:
Scarce in this condition with original case intact. Shirakawa’s Himalayas remains one of the definitive photographic records of the region, predating the digital era with unmatched analog fidelity. A fine addition to collections focused on exploration, Asian art, photography, or high-quality Abrams productions of the 1970s.
