In the late 1960s, Gordon Parks, acclaimed photographer with LIFE magazine, set out on a dream assignment; LIFE arranged for him to go on a trip to some of the finest markets around the world. Beginning in Japan, he made his way through parts of Asia, Africa, and most of Europe, ending his trip in Paris. While Parks is best known for his photographs that cover subjects such as civil rights, poverty, urban life, and fashion, the multitude of photographs made for this series show a lesser known body of Parks’ work. From the markets of Munich, the “sausage capital of Germany,” to the floating markets of Bangkok, to the Zoma in Tananarive, Madagascar – Parks captured the vivid and colorful street life of the market place and the early-risers selling their wares. While an article in LIFE was published in 1967 that showed a selection of these images, many in the series went unpublished and have never been seen publicly before.