HAWAIIAN SURFRIDING

Flagstaff, Arizona: Northland Press, 1961. First printing. Very good.. First edition of Blake's second book, a photo-essay of the sport published just as the surfing boom hit the mainland. Having already pioneered innovations in the materials used for surfboards and led the push for wider media coverage of the sport, Blake collaborates here with Don James, one of the most prolific and celebrated surf photographers of the era. James developed a waterproof box attached to his surfboard where he would shelter his camera between waves. Photographs include an image of Duke Kahanamoku, the father of surfing, and his self-made redwood olo surfboard weighing 126 pounds; a numbered landscape of the famous Castles Breaks; and dozens of monster waves. A classic in surfing print history. 11'' x 8.5''. Original side-stapled color photographic wrappers featuring three surfers along an enormous wave. Heavily illustrated throughout with black-and-white photographs of surfers and surfing life. [40] pages. Trace edgewear, some faint foxing to lower wrapper, small spot of ink at bottom corner of upper wrapper.