Clarence John Laughlin (Four-Book Photobook Sale)

Our current book sale is still going on...four NOS photobooks. "NOS" means "new old stock," meaning published some time ago but brand new copies. The four books cost $165, but if you enter the code 175212 at checkout, you can get all four for $48. Here's the link.

Packages are already arriving at peoples' houses. Reader Mike Plews sent me this the other day, to let me know his box had arrived:

[Note: The earliest shipments have just started to be delivered. If you haven't received yours, it's not time to worry yet. —M.]

I asked Mike how he liked the Laughlin title in particular, and this is what he said (don't miss the video Mike found, linked at the end, which contains a nice little thumbnail bio of C.J.L.)....

"Since it's way too hot to work outside I spent the morning paging through my new books. It's interesting to revisit an artist in your sixties that you first encountered in your late twenties. When I first became familiar with Laughlin I was deep into my "Jeez I sure wish I was Ansel Adams" period so I didn't fully appreciate what he was doing. I also have to confess that occasionally I got him mixed up with Ralph Eugene Meatyard, oops.

"After this morning I have to say that I like Laughlin's work a lot more than I did back then. The clearly staged images and the multiple exposures are rather timely given the recent discussions on TOP on manipulated images. For the record I like them a lot. The Laughlin book also dovetails nicely with the Barnard volume. Spanish Moss and wreckage everywhere.

"One reason I might be more receptive to these two books stems from a life change a few years ago that had Mrs. Plews and I going to Savannah four times in a couple of years. On the first visit my son took me to Bonaventure cemetery saying 'Dad, you gotta see this, you'll just go nuts,' and I did. If there ever was a place that screamed 'turn off the color,' this is it. I regard moments like this as permissible guilty pleasures. It isn't your place, you really don't know it and you aren't trying for anything like art so you can just let go and let it fly. The place is kind of a photographers' theme park, and you get to pay your respects to Johnny Mercer. What could be more fun?

"Now this may feel like a stretch and you can chalk it up to heat stroke but here goes. Paging through the Laughlin book sent me downstairs to pull out Sonja Bullaty's wonderful book on Josef Sudek. These guys feel like spirit brothers to me but I have been out in the sun.

"You may find it interesting that in 2013 a couple of Laughlin prints turned up on "Antiques Roadshow." Here's a link.

"Well that's my take on my new book. I am really enjoying the Hallmark Photo Book Club so far. Thanks for pulling this together."

The man in the "Antiques Roadshow" video talks about being friends with the photographer's son, John Laughlin, and says that John was the source of the prints they are discussing on the show. In the "Life's Little Coincidences" department, I used to work with John Laughlin, years ago, at a garden center in Washington, D.C.

We still do have book sets left! The sale lasts until July 2 or thereabouts. I'm looking forward to hearing how you like them.

Mike
(Thanks to Mike P.)

Original contents copyright 2016 by Michael C. Johnston and/or the bylined author. All Rights Reserved. Links in this post may be to our affiliates; sales through affiliate links may benefit this site.

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(To see all the comments, click on the "Comments" link below.)
Featured Comments from:

Darlene: "TOP is the only place I know of where you can participate in a garage sale with a museum selling photography books. These will find a home in my classroom, thanks Mike. Thanks also to Mike Plews for the visual that threw me into the shopping cart.  :-) "

Comments

[Steve]

Nothing yet here. And no indication anything has been sent other than my credit card being charged. And I paid more than $48.00.

[Michael]

Mike,

I am deeply concerned I haven't received my books from 800-odd miles away yet! ;) I have every confidence that they will be amazing, and I look forward to spending hours enjoying them. The last book sale impressed me greatly! I admit to stalking the windows if I hear the mail truck over the last few days...

I imagine the logistics of this must be difficult for The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, and I greatly appreciate both their effort, and perhaps more so yours for making this happen. I hope you can find the time for at least a semi-annual if not monthly book sale.

Thank you for your dedication to the cause of art.

[Chris]

I tried viewing the Antiques Roadshow material, but was stopped by a "right issue", which confused me a bit until I mentally added the missing "s", IP rights often being on a national basis, and I'm in the UK. However, second time round I noticed that I could view a transcript, which (as usual for transcripts) does make slightly odd reading, but probably provides most of the info from the clip.

Lovely looking set of books, but ruled out for me due to postage costs, I think! Keep up the good work, though, Mike

[Richard Parkin]

@Chris 0906am. On iPhone or iPad the Opera VPN app solves the "rights issue" for viewing, as in this case, US material from UK. I just switch it on when I hit the problem and reload the page.

[Dennis Huteson]

Grr and Grr again...I too cannot access the video clip from the 'Antiques Roadshow', which I find ironic living in Blighty where the programme came from! Do you ex-colonials have a version of our much loved Sunday trip into the old and collectable I wonder?

[Gato]

Thanks for the update. Looks like I'm not the only one waiting eagerly for delivery.

Hope to get the package soon. It's like when I was a kid waiting for Christmas.

[Matthew]

Great googly-moogly! I didn't see the original offer and had no idea the discount was *that* much. Books ordered without another thought.

[Burdette Parks]

My order arrived yesterday and they look great. An introduction to some new photographers and refreshers of old favorites. What a wonderful deal this is for all involved. Thanks, Mike.

[chas]

My compliments to the USPS! My box arrived yesterday with a hand-written label that lacked a street address, nonetheless the guys and gals at the post office managed to figure out the who and where and get it to me!
The books are amazing and deserving of more time that I can give them at the moment -- I can hardly wait.

Mike: if you want the details of the delivery story send me an email and I'll lay out the whole complicated thing.

C

[Bill Mitchell]

All five arrived this morning. They are WONDERFUL!
Thanks.
Bill

[Dave M.]

How few hardbacks were available?!? My order was placed and paid for by 11:02am, and I only received two hardbacks. If there are only a handful of hardbacks available it might be best to point that fact out in the posting about the sale. I would never have placed an ordered if I thought it was likely I would not get all four hardbacks, which is why I put my order in so quickly.

A note that you might pass on to the museum shop: If objects barely fit in the box, then you've chosen a box that's too small. There should be at least enough room to wrap everything up in bubble wrap. Tossing one small square of bubble wrap into a box is /not/ the correct way to pack books.

[rick barry]

Got the books today. Five, I got in early. All I can say now is wow! I,ll be busy with these for awhile. Thanks TOP, Nelson Atkins, and all involvedl. Gread deal for 63.95 shipped. Well done!

[Bob]

Loved the first book-read it cover to cover despite the 7 lb weight.

[Peter]

Got my books two days ago (New York metro area). Arrived in good condition. I have more interest in some than others, but knew that before ordering. A couple will probably become gifts to others. All in all, a good experience. Hope that you can continue to do this.
If you haven't done so, you need to get to Watkins Glen and take in the noise and fumes. Check their schedule and see if they have a classics event(s). I've been to some of those at Lime Rock - some great machines.

[Dave New]

Just got mine over Father's day weekend, and apparently got my order in soon enough to score all five books. They came in pristine condition. Thanks!