ANSEL ADAMS (1902–1984)
Portfolio IV, What Majestic Word: In Memory of Russell Varian, 1963
San Francisco: Sierra Club, 1963. Portfolio IV consisting of fifteen gelatin silver prints, each mounted on board; each signed in pencil (mount, recto); each credited, titled, dated and numbered with reproduction limitation in ink on affixed label (mount, verso); each enclosed in folders with typed verse by Russell H. Varian and John O. Varian and numbered in roman numerals I through XV; each image/sheet approximately 7 x 11 ½ (17.7 x 27.9 cm.), each mount 14 x 18 in. (35.5 x 45.7 cm.); together with two identical title pages credited and dated with plate list and biography of Russell H. Varian; portfolio four, number 161 from a limited number of 260 copies, 250 of which are for sale; contained in a cloth clamshell case with gold letterpress credit, title and date on cover, 18 ¼ x 14 ½ in. (46.3 x 36.8 cm.)

Acquired directly from the artist by private collector, 1960s;
by descent to the present owner.

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Lot Essay

The plates are as follows:
1. Teklanika River Mount McKinley National Park, Alaska
2. Sequoia Roots, Mariposa Grove Yosemite National Park, California
3. Leaf, Glacier Bay National Monument, Alaska
4. Dunes, Oceano, California
5. Cathedral Peak and Lake Yosemite National Park, California
6. Vernal Falls, Yosemite Valley, California
7. Clearing Storm Sonoma County Hills, California
8. Oak Tree, Sunset City Sierra Foothills, California
9. Castle Rock Summit Road Above Saratoga, California
10. Northern California Coast Redwoods
11. Orchard, Early Spring Near Stanford University, California
12. Siesta Lake Yosemite National Park, California
13. Storm Surf, Timber Cove, California
14. Tuolumne Meadows Yosemite National Park, California
15. Sierra Nevada, Winter Evening From The Owens Valley, California