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FIFTH CONTINENT, THE (Australian Edition)

FIFTH CONTINENT, THE (Australian Edition)

Hoppe, E. O. (Emil Otto), 1878-1972
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$35.00

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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.

  • xxxi p., 160 p. of plates : ill. ; 29 cm. #180726 (Some flecking to cloth covers, no dustjacket.)

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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