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November 23, 1966

 

Alvin Langdon Coburn was a photographer whose portraits of Yeats, D. T. Suzuki. Twain, are among his many masterpieces. He might be more famous today had he not pursued his mystical interests and found a group which stressed the value of anonymity for mystical achievement. So, although we do not know the name of his teacher, we are glad he wrote what is called an autobiography, where we learn of his delight in going to the silent pictures with family and friends to watch "Felix the Cat" cartoons. This book, Alvin Langdon Coburn, Photographer. was published after his death, and may not represent his own wishes about details. It is mainly photographs anyway. He died on November 23, 1966, and the book was published in 1978 with editing credits.

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