Life and Shape

New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts, 1962. 8vo. 372 pp. Plates. Original cloth; pictorial dust jacket. A near-fine copy with light wear to jacket, a few minor spots to sheet edges. FIRST EDITION. A fine association copy, inscribed by Richard Neutra to the photographer Barbara Morgan on the half-title: "To Barbara Morgan and her husband - who have suffered making the best book about a man, who deserves only the third best - Most cordially and sincere wishes to them and theirs Richard Neutra." Further inscribed by the artist Annita Delano on the front free endpaper: "To Barbara Morgan and to William Morgan to my mind two of the happiest people I have ever known, Annita Delano." The noted photographer Barbara Morgan - a co-founder of Aperture magazine - taught at UCLA with Neutra and Delano in the 1920s. Barbara Morgan at this time also assisted her husband, the writer Willard Morgan, in photographing the modern architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright and Richard Neutra, including a full documentation of the building of the Lovell House (hence Neutra's comment on their working on a book about him). Barbara Morgan went on to be renowned for her pictures of dancers. She and Delano co-curated an exhibition of Edward Weston's work at UCLA in 1927. Life and Shape summarizes the celebrated architect's beginnings, and his thoughts and reflections on future living and building.