Vanishing Africa

New York: Reynal & Company, 1971. First edition. Hardcover. g to g+. Folio. Note: the text pages and photo pages, though interleaved, are each separately numbered resulting in: 87, (1)pp. of text & index; and 212pp. of photographs (some in color). Original color photo-illustrated dust-jacket over yellow photo-illustrated paper covered boards, with black lettering on spine. Some very minor shelf wear, otherwise a near fine copy.

The Kenya born artist Mirella Ricciardi has travelled for over forty years around Africa to record her home, country and its people. The result of a 2-year journey is reflected in the striking photographs which form the basis of this book. When Mirella Ricciardi began photography in 1967 she did not have any technical training. She was inspired by the surroundings of Lake Naivasha, where she grew up and a place with a number of native Africans and a wide variety of animals. These two years of her work include portraits of six Kenyan tribes and their traditional lifestyle: Samburu, the Maasai, the Rendille, Turkana, the Bajun and the Gala Boran. Particular focus is on their traditional way of life and death, and their incomparable simple beauty. When published, "Vanishing Africa" granted a new audience and an unprecedented insight into the world of the East African people. It also became a model for Leni Riefenstahl and Peter Beard, the latter has a close friendship with Ricciardi. This work is splendidly illustrated throughout with 178 pages of b/w photographs, and 36 pages of color photos.