Lot 129

(5) Art Books Inscribed to Photographer Yousuf Karsh: Adams, Moore, Okamoto & More! Ex. Karsh Estate

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(5) Art Books Inscribed to Photographer Yousuf Karsh: Adams, Moore, Okamoto & More! Ex. Karsh Estate

Estimate: $300 - $400

Current Bid: $100

(1 Bid)

June 17, 2026 10:00 AM EDT
Live Auction
Wilton, CT, US

Description:

20th C. Art & Photography
various, ca. 1968-1988
(5) Art Books Inscribed to Photographer Yousuf Karsh: Adams, Moore, Okamoto & More! Ex. Karsh Estate
Group signed books

A collection of five photography and art reference books inscribed to and personally owned by Armenian-Canadian photographer Yousuf Karsh (1908-2002) and his wife, Estrellita. Various places, published between 1968 and 1988. Featuring the signatures of Ansel Adams, Henry Moore, Taro Okamoto, and Cornell Capa, in addition to Japanese photography critics Nobuo Ina and Yoshio Watanabe. All bearing an official estate label of provenance on the inside front pastedown, easily removable if desired. Exhibits varying degrees of shelf wear, soiling and intermittent page toning throughout. Areas of light to moderate surface creasing present. Overall, good condition. Please see accompanying images for additional information.

Karsh Estate Provenance: Held by the Estate of Yousuf & Estrellita Karsh; after Yousuf's death in 2002 passing to Estrellita Karsh; after Estrellita's death in March 2025 passing to Katherine Getchell, Co-Executor, Estrellita Karsh Estate and Personal Representative of Estrellita Karsh.

The lot includes:

1.) "Yosemite and the Range of Light" by Ansel Adams. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1979. First printing. Produced by the New York Graphic Society. Signed and inscribed on the half title page by Ansel and Virginia Adams, "To Yousuf and Estrellita Karsh 9/9/79".

2.) "Henry Moore" by Henry Moore and edited by Giovanni Carandente. Florence: Il Bisonte Editore, 1972. 333pp. Produced as a catalog for an exhibition at Fort Belvedere, May thru September 1972. Signed and inscribed on the free front endpaper: "To Estrellita and Yousuf/ with best wishes from Henry Moore/ Much Hadam October 31, 1972."

3.) "Robert Capa: Pocket Photo Collection" by Robert Capa with introduction by Jean Lacouture. Paris: National Center of Photography, 1988. Signed and inscribed by fellow photographer Cornell Capa (1918-2008), Robert's elder brother.

4.) "Taro Okamoto" by Taro Okamoto and edited by Hideo Kaido. Tokyo: Bijutsu Publishing Co., 1968. Housed within its original slipcase, numbered 167 out of 500 limited edition copies issued. Signed and inscribed on the half title page, in French: "A Monsieur et Madame Estrellita/ Yousuf Karsh… Taro Okamoto/ Tokio 13.5.69."

5.) "Asahi Camera Annual 1969", edited by Hideo Tsunoda. Produced by the Asahi Shimbun Company. Signed and inscribed on the free front endpaper by two of the book's contributors: "To Mr. Yousuf Karsh/ from Nobuo Ina/ Yoshio Watanabe/ May 12, 1969." With an additional inscription below on behalf of the editorial department.

Yousuf Karsh is recognized as one of the leading photographers of the twentieth century. Arriving in Canada in 1924 as an Armenian refugee, Karsh eventually settled in Ottawa. Over six decades, he mastered the art of portraiture and created a unique chronicle of his time through images of celebrated legends. Some of his most notable subjects include Winston Churchill, Audrey Hepburn, Martin Luther King, Jr., John F. Kennedy, and Ernest Hemingway, among others. A celebrity in his own right, he was an elegant and charming public figure, captivating audiences with compelling stories told in images and words. Karsh sought to capture, as he put it, the "elusive moment of truth," revealing the essential nature of his subjects as reflected in their eyes, hands, and attitudes.

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This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 15" x 12.5" (largest)
  • Medium: Group signed books

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000