Narcotic Photographic Document by Kazuo Kenmochi, First Edition

This is a first edition, first printing of “Narcotic Photographic Document” published by Inoue Shoten, Tokyo in 1963. Although highly regarded by photobook enthusiasts for many years, the book recently received quite a bit of attention for setting a record for the title, $5500 including commission, at the Swann Photographic Auction held at the end of 2009. The book is a penetrating look inside early 60s drug culture in Japan from production, to distribution, addiction and finally incarceration. Photoeye commenting on the book stated, “Kazuo Kenmochi's Narcotic Photographic Document appears alternately as a work of straight documentary on the one hand, and the highly subjective view of an insider, on the other. Some of the imagery will seem familiar to that seen in Larry Clark's Tulsa, which, remarkably, it predates by eight years.”

Measuring approximately 10.5” x 7.5”, the book is bound in white cloth covered boards with Japanese titles stamped onto the spine with a photographically illustrated dust jacket. The book is housed in cardboard slipcase with a printed label. The slipcase is in Very Good + condition with some soiling as well as rubs and chips to the label. The dust jacket is in Near Fine condition with surface wear. The book is in Near Fine condition with a very small mark to the front cover. Overall, this is a highly collectible copy of a very rare photobook that appears on the verge of becoming one of the more valuable books in the photobook genre.

Photographs of the slipcase, dust jacket, and stock images from the book appear in the photo section of the listing.