Country United Kingdom Media type Print (hardback) Originally published 1999 Page count 464 (1999 edition) ISBN 3822863947 | Language English Pages 464 (1999 edition) Genre Photography Publisher Taschen | |
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Sumo is a book by German-Australian photographer Helmut Newton. The book is a monograph which showcases his work in fashion and celebrity photography. Featured portraits include Catherine Deneuve, Nicolas Cage and Mickey Rourke amongst others. The book is credited with changing the fortunes of the Taschen publishing house.
Initially released as a limited edition of 10,000 copies in 1999, selling for $1,500. The initial run was numbered and signed by Newton. In keeping with its title, the book was extremely large, weighing over 30 kg and measuring 50 x 70 cm. Due to the size and weight of the book, a bespoke stand was designed by Phillipe Starck to support it. The first copy of the book was signed by 80 of the celebrities featured in it. This was subsequently sold at auction in Berlin on 6 August 2000 for $430,000, at the time a record for a book published in the 20th Century.
A subsequent edition, edited by Newton's widow June was released in September 2009. Although oversized this was much smaller, measuring about 12 by 17 inches. This edition came with a perspex stand to display it and retailed at a more modest $150.