THE ROLLING STONES. MEN OF WEALTH AND TASTE. Michael Joseph's Photographs of The Rolling Stones.

First edition. Signed by the author. Limited edition. Publisher's original black suede binding with inlaid a dye-infused aluminum print of The Rolling Stones, and titles in silver, to the upper board. Illustrated with photographs in colour and black and white by Michael Joseph, printed on heavy art paper. A fine copy, the binding square and firm, bright and fresh. The contents are clean throughout. Housed in the publisher's black cloth solander case with titles in silver to the upper lid and spine. A lavish production.

Issued in a limited edition of 200 copies, this example is numbered 48 and signed by Robert Greenfield on the limitation page at the rear. When the greatest rock and roll band in the world released Beggars Banquet in 1968, it was immediately hailed as a masterpiece and the band's finest effort. While the front cover image of a grafitti-laden lavatory was suppressed and not used for 20 years, the inner sleeve, picturing the original line-up in full regalia enjoying themselves in an immense castle, was treasured by fans. Unfortunately, the poor reproduction quality and cheesy hand-colouring of the album image didn't reveal even a shadow of the original photograph's brilliant colours and striking composition. Moreover, there was a suite of 30 additional photographs of the Stones from that day, all by Michael Joseph, the photographer on hand who recorded these striking images, which are among the last of the original line-up featuring Brian Jones. Except for a single showing of these images at a gallery in London, the complete Michael Joseph photographs of The Rolling Stones have never before been seen, and the gallery of photographs has, needless to say, never before been published in book form, until now. This book presents the entire known collection of Joseph's photographs, printed here in striking fidelity for the first time ever. The book features a brief epigraph by Keith Richards, written solely for this book, and an original 10,000 word essay by noted Stones expert Robert Greenfield. Greenfield's essay describes the genesis of the record, with a blow-by-blow account of the creation of each song. He also talks extensively about producer Jimmy Miller, who made such huge contributions to the Stones' sound; engineer Glyn Johns; the legendary Olympic Studios where the album was recorded; the castle where the exterior shots were taken; and the mysterious mansion Sarum Chase, where the stunning interior photographs were taken. (Publisher's blurb).