Why are Eggleston books so expensive?

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For a while I've been meaning to get into color-shot urban (non-)space more and today found this article from Vogue on Eggleston.

http://www.vogue.com/article/william-eggleston-photographer-election-eve-new-york


Enjoyed reading it a lot (why I'm linking it here) and had a look around to find some more work of him that might grace my book shelves, rather than my digital screens.


But, the stuff is horribly expensive! Was it printed in limited numbers only? Did it sell in small numbers only? No reprints? What's going on with the books of William Eggleston?


Any leads on the good (which?) books and cheap sales addresses (in EU?) are welcome too.


Thanks in advance!
 
This happens to a lot of photo books. They are printed in small runs and when they go out of print the prices get astronomical.

Not sure about EU availability but this is a good place to start:

https://www.amazon.com/William-Egglestons-Guide-John-Szarkowski/dp/0870703781

Unfortunately I've never seen anything of Eggleston's in books or later prints that conveys the magic of his photography as well as the dye sub prints from the 1970s. They are mind blowingly beautiful.
 
Yep, the "Eggleston's Guide" reprint (linked by Nightfly) is not only the 1 "Must have", but the best value as well.
 
A lot of the expensive Eggleston books are also YUGE!
Chromes and Los Alamos Revisited are both multi volume libraries. Personally I find books that size too big to enjoy. Similarly I have Franks Americans Expanded Edition, but I really just need the normal Americans to be able to enjoy. It's hard reading a 2kg book!

I think Guide is a good introduction, but also Democratic Forrest - Selected Works is nice and affordable and I've heard good things about it. I think I might get that one actually as I've read Guide a bit already
 
Thanks for the replies and suggestions. Seems I had missed that the Democratic Forest and Los Alamos books were in fact multiple volumes in one title 😱

The Democratic Forest Selected Works seems an excellent suggestion, as well as the Guide.

I'm eased a bit now😉 and will plan the purchase of a book soon
 
As mentioned, some of Eggleston's books are multi volume sets. Some of his books are now out of print. Both conditions mean the books will be more expensive. But recently published books and some of his older and more popular books are about average price for new photo books. On US Amazon, there are several new Eggleston books in the $50 range or for less. That's about the norm these days.

I buy a lot of photo books which, I guess, makes me a collector. But lots of those books were bought as used or remainders. Since my main reason to buy a book is to read it or engage in looking at the photos inside, I don't mind a book that is a little shop worn or shows more use than average. That can save a few bucks.
 
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