Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 15

Very Rare Suite of 35 Brassaï Paris de Nuit Printer’s Proof Heliogravures

$72,190.63
$103,129.4730% Off
£54,373.91
£77,677.0230% Off
€61,250
€87,50030% Off
CA$99,553.99
CA$142,219.9830% Off
A$111,844.44
A$159,777.7730% Off
CHF 58,438.89
CHF 83,484.1330% Off
MX$1,365,113.73
MX$1,950,162.4730% Off
NOK 742,003.25
NOK 1,060,004.6430% Off
SEK 698,439.74
SEK 997,771.0630% Off
DKK 466,211.72
DKK 666,016.7430% Off

About the Item

Suite of 35 Brassaï Paris de Nuit Printer’s Proof Heliogravures — Unbound, Numbered & Rare (c. 1933) Step into Brassaï’s nocturnal Paris with an unrepeatable portfolio of thirty-five original printer’s proofs for his legendary photobook Paris de Nuit (Arts et Métiers Graphiques, 1933). What makes this set exceptional • Pre-publication state – These sheets were pulled at the press to check ink density and plate alignment before the final print-run; they are single-sided, blank-verso, and drilled with no spiral perforations, unlike the finished book that was wire-bound through a comb of punched tabs . • Printer’s numeration – Each sheet bears the original plate number in the margin, evidence of the production workflow and seldom seen outside the printer’s archives. • Deep-tone heliogravure – Struck by Draeger Frères in Paris, the images display the velvet blacks and silver greys that earned the book its reputation as “one of the most tactile gravure photobooks ever produced.”  • Comprehensive cross-section – From rain-slick streets and river reflections to dance-hall divas and Montparnasse lovers, every print is a different negative—no duplicates—forming a museum-worthy survey of Brassaï’s night imagery. • Conservation framing – Each proof is window-mounted in acid-free board and framed (3.5 D × 33.5 W × 40 H cm overall), ready for immediate gallery display. The frames on the photos are an example, each piece will be framed once the buyer confirm the purchase. Historical context Printed in 1933, these proofs precede the first-edition book that introduced Brassaï’s 64 nocturnal plates to the world. Surviving printer’s proofs are scarce; most were destroyed or retained by the atelier. Comparable single examples occasionally surface on the market as “rare heliogravure test prints” and are prized by collectors of early 20th-century photography . Condition All sheets present strong impressions with rich blacks, clean margins, and only the occasional handling crease consistent with pressroom use. No restoration, bleaching, or retouching—original patina preserved. Collection potential Whether displayed individually or as a dramatic wall grid, this ensemble offers curators, collectors, and design lovers an unparalleled window onto the genesis of one of photography’s most iconic books.
  • Creator:
    Brassaï (Photographer),George Brassaï (Photographer)
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 86.62 in (220 cm)Width: 104.34 in (265 cm)Depth: 1.19 in (3 cm)
  • Style:
    Mid-Century Modern (In the Style Of)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    circa 1930
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use.
  • Seller Location:
    Barcelona, ES
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU1427241936842

More From This Seller

View All
Brassaï, Black and White Photogravure, 1979
By Brassaï
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Brassai photogravure plate page inside the book Phographie 1947 edited by Arts et Metiers Graphiques. Black wood Framed size 40 x 50 cm Brassaï pseudonym of Gyula Halász; 9 Sep...
Category

Vintage 1970s European Mid-Century Modern Photography

Materials

Paper

Paris de Nuit: Rare Framed Heliogravure by Brassai, 1933
By Brassaï
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Capture the essence of 1930s Paris with this rare framed heliogravure photography by Brassai, showcasing mesmerizing scenes from his iconic book "Paris de Nuit." Originally published...
Category

Vintage 1930s French Mid-Century Modern Photography

Materials

Paper

Brassai Framed Heliogravure Photography (1949) - Black and White
By Brassaï
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Brassai Framed Heliogravure Photography (1949) - Black and White Artist: Brassai Type: Framed heliogravure photograph Color: Black and white Dimensions: H 29.5 x W 24.5 x D 3.5 cm S...
Category

Vintage 1940s French Mid-Century Modern Photography

Materials

Paper

Brassaï Heliogravure from Verve Vol. I No. 1, 1937 — Framed Parisian Image
By Brassaï
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Original heliogravure by Brassaï, published in the landmark first edition of Verve (Vol. I No. 1, December 1937), Éditions Verve, Paris. This evocative photograph captures a classical headless statue...
Category

Vintage 1930s French Mid-Century Modern Prints

Materials

Paper

Paris by Night: Brassai's Rare Heliogravure Test Framed Print
By Brassaï
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Embark on a journey through the nocturnal streets of "Paris de Nuit" with this exclusive rare heliogravure test print by Brassai. Prior to the publication of his iconic book, this pr...
Category

Vintage 1930s French Mid-Century Modern Photography

Materials

Paper

Paris de Nuit: Rare Framed Heliogravure by Brassai, 1933
By Brassaï
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Capture the essence of 1930s Paris with this rare framed heliogravure photography by Brassai, showcasing mesmerizing scenes from his iconic book "Paris de Nuit...
Category

Vintage 1930s French Mid-Century Modern Photography

Materials

Paper

You May Also Like

Selection of Modern Engravings, circa 1938
Located in Atlanta, GA
Selection of Modern Engravings, from a limited edition published in the December 1938 issue of the ground breaking modern art magazine XXe. They are framed in clean lined black lacquered wood gallery frames. They are priced at $550 each. From left to right, top to bottom, they are: 1) Henri Matisse 2) Henri Laurens 3) Juan Miro...
Category

Vintage 1930s French Mid-Century Modern Prints

Materials

Paper

Set of Twenty Framed 19th Century French Portrait Etchings
Located in Chicago, IL
A fantastic set of twenty 19th century framed etchings of Roman and Greek emperors, statesmen, and philosophers including Julius Caesar, Augustus Caesar, Cicero, Marcus Brutus...
Category

Antique 19th Century French Neoclassical Photography

Materials

Paper

Set of 1970’s Three Printed Photos of Norman Norell Designs Framed in Black
Located in Dallas, TX
Set of three framed photos of models wearing Norman Norell fashion design pieces. Photos by Ken Duncan. Black frame with glass covers. Ready to hang. Made in the United States in the early 1970’s. Norell was an iconic fashion designer in New York from this period known for his impeccable detailing, tailoring, and timeless design, creating works for the Traina-Norrell and the Norell fashion houses. Each piece has individual markings from "Grand Image Home" indicating a numbered title and information on the manufacturer and printer located in Seattle, Washington zip code 98134. Address is also indicated 4730 Ohio Avenue South Seattle, WA TEL. (omitted). grandimage projects at grandimage . Note, this includes phone numbers, URL's and email addresses we are not permitted to include in the description. Below are corresponding numbers: Photo 1: Grand Archives "Model 4" 21010_P_46x36_B Name of the original photo: “Model wearing Norman Norell flower petal opera cloak...
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Photography

Materials

Art Glass, Wood, Paper

1950 Duilio Barnabè Dubè Screenprint
By Duilio Barnabe
Located in Brescia, IT
Duilio Barnabè Italy, 1950 Screenprint on paper 60/100 Signed "Barnabè" with pencil Original blue wood frame with glass Super rare screenprint Duilio Barnabè (October 7, 1914 – Oc...
Category

Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Prints

Materials

Paper, Wood

Figures - Offset Print by Franco Gentilini - 1970s
By Franco Gentilini
Located in Roma, IT
Figures is a Vintage Offset Print on ivory-colored paper, realized by Franco Gentilini ( Italian Painter, 1909-1981), in the 1970s. The state of preservation of the artwork is exce...
Category

1970s Modern Figurative Prints

Materials

Paper, Offset

Figures - Offset Print by Franco Gentilini - 1970s
By Franco Gentilini
Located in Roma, IT
Figures is a Vintage Offset Print on ivory-colored paper, realized by Franco Gentilini ( Italian Painter, 1909-1981), in the 1970s. The state of preservation of the artwork is exce...
Category

1970s Modern Figurative Prints

Materials

Paper, Offset