Just got hold of the Taschen book "1000 Photo Icons". Although I haven't had nearly enough time to read it, it does look like a good book - lots of detail, and some lovely images in it, covering everything from Daguerre and Fox-Talbot all the way to Cindy Sherman, Nan Golding, Mapplethorpe, Avedon and friends. From many different angles.
Just gotta find time to read all 700 pages or so of it...