IN SOCCER WONDERLAND: A FAN'S VISION OF FOOTBALL WITH A FAN'S SOUVENIR FOOTBALL STAMP ALBUM

London, England: Booth-Clibborn Editions, 1994. First Edition. First Printing.. Hardcover. Fine/No Dust Jacket, As Issued.. London, England: Booth-Clibborn Editions, 1994. Hardcover. Fine/None, As Issued. First Edition/First Printing. 168 pages. Collection of photographs with accompanying text on subject. One of the greatest photography books of the 20th century. The First Hardcover Edition. Precedes and should not be confused with all other subsequent editions. Published in a small and limited first print run as a hardcover original only. The First Edition is now scarce. It comes with a copy of the "In Soccer Wonderland" Souvenir Football Stamp Album, which was originally issued with the book and is now rare. A brilliant production by Julian Germain and Why Not Associates: Oversize-volume format. Glossy pictorial hard boards with titles on the cover and spine, as issued. Photographs and text by Julian Germain. Germain's text is beautifully and movingly written, an autobiography of a fan's obsession that serves as a prism of his life. Printed on thick coated stock paper in Hong Kong to the highest standards. Without DJ, as issued. Originally shown at the exhibition of the same name held at The Photographer's Gallery London in 1992. Presents Julian Germain's "In Soccer Wonderland". One of the most unusual sports photography books ever published. With a design that flawlessly captures the vibrancy, dynamism, and sheer excitement of the game through the juxtaposition of Julian Germain's contemporary photographs and text with graphics, layout, doublespreads, vintage photographs, souvenirs, trading cards, head dolls, trophies, and other soccer memorabilia. The British, European, and Latin-American fanaticism about soccer, which has made it the world's greatest sport, is the subject of the book, and it is truly wonderful indeed (the title is an allusive homage to "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland"). "Germain is a pioneer of the contemporary photo-collage book, whereby different types and generations of the photograph are combined to make a pluralist genre of photobook" (Martin Parr and Gerry Badger). Parr and Badger are idiosyncratically (and quite dogmatically) opinionated about their own passion for photography books. But their inclusion of "In Soccer Wonderland" is a sure goal. Julian Germain's images leap off the page with infectious spontaneity, and his book should delight and dazzle not just soccer fans, but all lovers of great photography books. An absolute "must-have" title for Julian Germain collectors. This title is a great photography book. It comes with a pristine copy of the Stamp Souvenir Album, which was originally issued with it, but is now virtually impossible to find. As far as we know, this is the only set of the First Hardcover Edition/First Printing and Souvenir Album available online and is in especially fine condition: Clean, crisp, and bright. A rare set thus. Lavishly illustrated with black-and-white and color plates. All 24 stamps are encased in their original glassine sheet. "In Soccer Wonderland" was selected as one of the greatest photography books in "The Photobook". One of the most brilliant British photographers of our time. A fine collectible copy. (SEE ALSO NEIL LEIFER "GUTS AND GLORY" TITLE IN OUR CATALOG). ISBN 1873968302.