Books

Complete and very rare first edition of the photo book whose aesthetics were groundbreaking for the American and international queer subculture – handmade by Smith from the silver gelatin prints in presumably only around 60 (of 200 originally planned) copies. Also involved in the production was the poet and filmmaker Piero Heliczer, who simultaneously ran the small publishing house “Dead Language Press”. Like Smith, he was one of the most important protagonists of the avant-garde New York subculture and, above all, of “New American Cinema”. His mother emigrated with him from Europe in the 1940s after his father was murdered by the Gestapo as a Polish resistance fighter. After dropping out of Harvard, he moved to Paris and founded the “Dead Language Press” together with Angus MacLise (who later played drums for "Velvet Underground" and composed music for the Fluxus festivals organized by George Maciunas). In addition to Smith, works by Gregory Corso also appeared…

An iconic work, 'The Beautiful Book' is known for its eloquent prose and historical significance.