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FIFTH CONTINENT, THE (Australian Edition)

Hoppe, E. O. (Emil Otto), 1878-1972

$35.00

1 in stock

AUSTRALIAN PHOTOGRAPHY –

Published in 1931, The Fifth Continent is a landmark photobook by the German-born British photographer Emil Otto Hoppé. It documents his ten-month journey across Australia, becoming the first work by a foreign photographer to cover the entire nation, featuring 160 iconic black-and-white plates detailing cities, the Outback, and Aboriginal peoples. 
Emil Otto Hoppé (E.O. Hoppé) spent nearly a year traversing Australia in 1930, capturing a vibrant, rapidly changing, and diverse nation. The book, titled after the traditional moniker for Australia, captures a striking contrast between modern European settlement and the ancient, untouched landscapes. 
Key features of The Fifth Continent include:
  • The Construction of the Sydney Harbour Bridge: Hoppé captured some of the earliest and most dramatic structural photos of the bridge before its completion. 
  • Cultural Diversity: He documented a broad spectrum of Australian life, from glamorous sunbathers at Bondi Beach to the harsh lives of desert opal miners (including a sole female miner) and lumberjacks. [1, 2]
  • Indigenous Communities: He extensively photographed Aboriginal peoples and their tribal traditions, offering a complex (and historically significant) look at Indigenous culture during a time of heavy European influence. [1, 2]
  • Format: The book features 160 full-page letterpress plates paired with thirty-two pages of introductory text rendered in letterpress. 
The original print, recognized for its orange cloth cover and teal blue text, is highly collectible.
First Edition.

Additional Information

AuthorHoppe, E. O. (Emil Otto), 1878-1972
Number of pagesxxxi p., 160 p. of plates : ill. ; 29 cm.
PublisherSimpkin Marshall, London
Year Published1931
Binding Type

Hardcover. Original cloth

Book Condition

Very Good +

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