Ever wonder where those guys selling the newest, choicest art books on the streets of Soho and Union Square get their wares? Are they filched at the warehouse upon arriving in the U.S. or smuggled out of the printing plants and sold to an underground network of art-loving fences?

Photographer Michael Wolf, author of the forthcoming Aperture title The Transparent City was surprised to encounter copies of his book already being enjoyed by the population of Hong Kong a mere couple of weeks after being on press with the book himself! As proof of this nefarious ring of pre-publication book trafficking activity, Wolf sent Aperture the following photographs. In the upcoming months, look for copies of this title in fine bookstores (and folding-table street vendors) near you!