MUYBRIDGE, Eadweard. Animal Locomotion.  An electro-photographic investigation of consecutive phases of animal movements.  Author's edn.  Large oblong folio.    Philadelphia:  published under the auspices of theUniversity of Pennsylvania. 1887 Title in red & black, 21 numbered plates;  title & plates a little spotted, nos 565 & 755 a little more heavily.  Overall a very clean and attractive copy.  Orig. brown cloth, black leather label, lettered in gilt.  In a custom made fold-over box.

Animal Locomotion was first published, in 1887, as part of an epic eleven volume set containing 781 plates.  Only 37 sets were produced which were placed in major institutions.  The Public Edition of Animal Locomotion was issued by subscription.  The prospectus states that 'each copy [is] to contain One Hundred Plates at a cost of $100' with the plates to be selected by the subscriber after examining one of the complete sets deposited 'in one of the Art Institutions or Libraries of Philadelphia, Boston, New York, Washington, and other large cities of the United States'.  Offered here is the Author's Edition, consisting of 21 selected plates of some of the most dynamic and collectable images from Muybridge's series of animal locomotion (see full list of plates below).  With complete volumes often broken up, Jarndyce is pleased to offer a rare opportunity to purchase this complete volume.  Born Edward James Muggeridge in 1830, Eadweard Muybridge is revered as a founding father of motion picture and a pioneer of modern photographic technique. His photography of animals in motion began in 1872 at the invitation of Leland Stanford who enlisted Muybridge to prove that when a horse ran, all four legs were clear of the ground.  Enthused and increasingly obsessed with the challenge, Muybridge developed his motion sequence photography which ultimately provided evidence to show Leland's hunch was correct.  Although Muybridge's relationship with Stanford collapsed in 1883, he continued his work under the patronage of the University of Pennsylvania.  The result was the publication of "Animal Locomotion", a truly epic work consisting of 19,347 individual shots of men, women, children and animals.   Until this time 'photography had not represented movement ... But Muybridge's instantaneous photography made motion visible, and therefore functioned to represent the fast-moving time and shifting cultural landscape of modernity'.  Muybridge's influence was manifold;  his photography aided the advancement of scientific knowledge, prompted the advancement of motion pictures, and inspired future generations of photographers and artists.  Moreover, his images of athletic and well defined men and women conveyed an image of the  American ideal.  'Aside from his technological achievements, Muybridge helped shape the nineteenth century and its values as much as he reflected them, making a lasting impression on the century he inhabited.'

Plates included in this volume:  no. 565, Belgian draught horse;  no. 616, Canter, saddle, rider;  no. 626, Race-horse galloping;  no. 647,  'Pandora' jumping a hurdle, bareback; rider nude;  no. 659, Kicking mule;  no. 710, Hound sprinting;  no. 721, Lion walking;  no. 739, Galloping camel;  no. 755, Pigeon flying;  no. 3, Male walking;  no. 152, High-jumper;  no. 174, Female skipping rope;  no. 187, Woman dancing (fancy);  no. 214, Mother lifting child;  no. 465, Child brings bouquet to female;  no. 471, Child crawling;  no. 279, Baseball, batting;  no. 289, Male cricket, bowling  no. 347, Males wrestling;  no. 133, a lady descending steps;  no. 408, a woman emptying a bucket over another woman's head.

www.jarndyce.co.uk  £32500 [ref: 56254]