[Portfolio]: Black Jews

New York: Lawrence N. Shustak, 1964. Unbound. Near Fine. Portfolio. Brown textured paper over boards with ribbon ties. Title stenciled, and author's signature on front board. Seven bifolia (folded card leaves) with a total of 12 mounted photographs. Some sunning and a light drink ring on front board of the portfolio, and a little light toning on the card bifolia, very good, with the images fine. Hand-stenciled title page and stenciled or stamped colophon indicating that this is copy number 129 of an edition of 150 copies Signed by the photographer on both the title page and the colophon. Strikingly rich black and white gelatin silver prints of Black Jews (sometimes known as "Ethiopian Hebrews") worshipping in Harlem.

Shustak (1926-2003) was a white Bronx-born photographer who moved to New Zealand in 1973. According to a website devoted to his work, he was best "known for his 1960's portfolios of Black Jews, Fisheye nudes, Jazz musicians (for Riverside Records), Graffiti, Street photography... ." He was also the subject of an award-winning documentary.

A rare and quite wonderful group of images focused on a little-known sub-sect of the Jewish religion. Only the second set we've seen. *OCLC* locates two sets of the portfolio (Yale and University of New Mexico).