370 - Helmut Newton

Helmut Newton Sumo Art book Chrome stand by Philippe Starck Publication date: 1999 Taschen edition, signed and numbered 01693/10,000 H76 L76 D25 cm The book shows signs of wear and has visible imperfections on the images. Helmut Newton’s *Sumo*. The first volume in the *Sumo* series, and undoubtedly the most fascinating and sought-after ever published by Taschen. Signed and numbered inside by Helmut Newton. This copy, number 01693 of 10,000 from the first edition published by Taschen, is one of the earliest in the series. It retains its original chrome stand, designed by Philippe Starck, which is easy to assemble and disassemble. The book measures 76 cm x 76 cm x 25 cm. When unfolded, its dimensions are approximately 71 cm x 71 cm x 56 cm. The book shows signs of wear, with visible imperfections on the images. The aptly named *Sumo* broke every record: for weight (35 kg), size (70 cm), and price (1,500 euros). Above all, it marked the advent of the book as an art object: sold in a limited edition, signed, and accompanied by a metal display stand designed by Philippe Starck, “Sumo” was not distributed through bookstores but sold by subscription. It was a smash hit—the 10,000 copies sold out very quickly. And in 2000, an auction in Berlin made it the most expensive book in history. Copy No. 1, signed by the celebrities photographed, fetched 620,000 marks ($430,000). Since then, many publishers have followed suit, producing rare, expensive (and heavy) art books.