Wereldreis in Foto’s 1–4 – Ed van der Elsken, 1967 (Complete Set)

A corporate commission turned into a fiercely independent photographic journey. In 1967, the Co-operative Dairy Factory “Friesland” sent Ed van der Elsken across its international markets—not to document industry, but to capture everyday life in the countries where its products circulated.

The result is a four-volume sequence of raw, high-contrast black-and-white images: postwar cities, street protests, children, workers, intimate portraits and fleeting encounters. Structured as a visual travel diary, the series reflects van der Elsken’s immersive, humanist approach—close to bodies, alert to gesture, grounded in lived reality.

A rare complete set of a landmark 1960s Dutch photobook project.

Technical Sheet
Title: Wereldreis in Foto’s 1–4
Photographer: Ed van der Elsken
Year: 1967
Publisher: Coöperatieve Condensfabriek “Friesland”
Format: Four softcover volumes
Printing: Black and white offset
Language: Dutch
Condition: Good vintage condition; light wear and age toning consistent with use.