Magnum Photos celebrates its 75th anniversary by releasing a new edition of its bestselling book

Since 1947, the legendary international photography cooperative Magnum Photos has been chronicling images of people, cultures, events, and issues of the day. And now, to celebrate its 75th anniversary, Magnum Photos is releasing an updated edition of its best-selling book.

Written By: Dom Carter

3 August 2022

Open book spread showing two photographs: left image of a woman with yellow face paint surrounded by hands, right image of a woman with red hair wearing fishnet gloves and a mustard-coloured garment

If you missed out on the opportunity to pick up a copy of Magnum Magnum in 2007, you're in luck. As Magnum Photos turns 75, the cooperative has teamed up with Thames & Hudson and Volume to publish a fully updated and expanded edition of the bestselling book, which bought together some of their most stunning images.

Available in two editions, including a limited edition and a signed limited edition, this version of Magnum Magnum is available for pre-order exclusively from Volume. And don't let this chance pass you by. Only 750 copies are available, including 75 copies signed by over 20 Magnum photographers.

Open book spread showing a colour photograph of a man and woman at a formal event on the left page, with Martin Parr's name and biography text on the right page

Open book spread showing four black and white photographs from Magnum Photos' collection depicting various scenes of people and landscapes

Open book spread showing two Magnum Photos images: silhouetted figures against Mount Fuji on the left, and a modernist red and blue building facade with figures visible in windows on the right

Described by the Sunday Times as "Brimming with photographic masterpieces … some of the greatest pictures ever taken," Magnum Magnum already established itself as the definitive photo book of its era upon its original release. Equally famous due to its scarcity – the first edition immediately sold out – this expanded re-release is bound to be music to the ears of photographers worldwide.

As well as containing everything that made the original edition so seminal, this version of Magnum Magnum also contains 25 photographers who have joined the ranks of Magnum in the last 15 years. With more than 130 new photographs and over 700 pages, this promises to be the definition of an updated classic.

"Organised by photographer, Magnum Magnum is built upon a concept from Magnum's early days and what made Magnum such a unique creative environment; a collaborative process where each of the four founding members picture-edited the other's photographs," says Volume.

Two black and white photographs from Magnum Photos' archive: left shows a man in a suit speaking with elegantly dressed women in what appears to be an indoor venue; right depicts a man in a hat and suit examining or writing on a document

Open spread from Magnum Magnum book showing a Buddhist monk in orange robes meditating by a tree trunk on the left, and a woman in elaborate gold costume and headdress with traditional dancers in the background on the right

Magnum Magnum book spread showing Steve McCurry's photograph of a young child held up by an adult's hands with biographical text on the right page

Open copy of Magnum Magnum book showing its cover and an interior black and white photograph of three people in conversation

It adds: "This book evokes the same creative spirit, with each current Magnum photographer selecting and critiquing six key works by another of the agency's 87 photographers along with a commentary explaining the rationale behind their choices."

Created and produced in collaboration with Steidl and designed by Martin Andersen, this very collectable edition returns to the original, epic 390 x 320mm page size. So you might want to clear some room on your coffee table.

Printed in Göttingen under the direction of Gerhard Steidl himself, Magnum Magnum features a five-colour process throughout on 150gsm Magno Volume Paper by Sappi, Italy. Bound in real cloth with two-colour foil blocking, Magnum Magnum is set to re-establish Magnum Photos as the epicentre of the photographic world. Interested? Pre-order your copy from Volume now via Vol.co.