Edward Weston
1935
Shipyard detail, Wilmington

Gelatin silver print
7 1/2 x 9 1/4 ins (19.1 x 23.5 cm)
 
Swann Galleries - New York
Fine Photographers, 19 February 2015, Sale 2374, Lot 59
 
In the spring of 1935, Edward Weston started a new business venture, which he called the "Edward Weston Print-of-the-Month Club." Laid in to issues of Camera Craft magazine was a promotional item explaining that, though prints by Weston typically cost $15 to $20, members of the club could purchase them for only $5 ($60 for the year).
 
The plan was for subscribers to automatically receive a new print each month. The total edition size for each photograph would not exceed forty (35 for subscibers and 5 for the photographer). Unfortunately, Weston's great idea did not find great traction; he found about eleven paid subscribers. Thus, only 12 monthly prints were ever issued and the prints are very rare.
 
LL/57670