100 FINE PHOTOGRAPHS AT AUCTION AT
Le 2007-12-08 16:29:09

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100 FINE PHOTOGRAPHS Highlights Include Abraham Lincoln Ambrotype; Civil War, Circus, Alaska Expedition, and Early Aviation Albums; and Masterpieces by Some of the World's Most Famous Photographers.

New York- The full spectrum of the photographic medium is represented in Swann Galleries' auction of 100 Fine Photographs on Thursday, February 16.

Among the earliest items in the sale is a sixth-plate ruby ambrotype of Abraham Lincoln that was originally owned by the family of Lincoln's Secretary of State, William Henry Seward, 1858 (estimate: $3,000 to $4,500). Also from the Civil War era is Alexander Gardner's Photographic Sketch Book of the War, Volume II, containing 50 albumen prints depicting the advance of the Army of the Potomac, Washington, DC, 1866 ($18,000 to $22,000).

From the 1860s through the 1880s comes a fascinating collection of 137 photographs and other memorabilia related to circus and sideshow performers that appeared on an episode of the PBS program Antiques Roadshow. In addition to the many cartes-de-visite, cabinet, boudoir and promenade cards are Jack "The Giant" Earle's oversize ring and an engraved umbrella handle once belonging to a member of the Barnum & Bailey show ($10,000 to $15,000).

Other notable albums include a nearly complete set of the Atlas Photographique de la Lune, a rare classic of photographic literature, with 69 of 71 oversize heliogravure close-ups of the lunar surface, Paris, 1896-1910 ($40,000 to $60,000); and Edward S. Curtis's A Souvenir of the Harriman Alaska Expedition, May-August, 1899, volumes one and two, containing 251 original photographs chronicling the first environmental expedition to Alaska ($30,000 to $40,000).

Also by Curtis are four of his luminous orotones, among them Son of the Desert, Navajo, 1904, and Oasis in the Badlands, 1905, printed 1920s, both in the original Curtis Studio frames ($10,000 to $15,000 and $18,000 to $22,000 respectively).

Other early 20th century highlights include an album containing 50 photographs relating to Wilbur and Orville Wright, many by their chief photographer William Preston Mayfield, with images of planes in flight, 1909-1917, printed early 1950s ($10,000 to $15,000); Alfred Stieglitz's classic image of The Steerage, a photogravure that appeared in Camera Work, the seminal photography magazine Stieglitz founded, and was once in the collection of his biographer Dorothy Norman, 1907 ($5,000 to $7,500); a well as a copy of the Steichen Supplement issue of Camera Work, with 16 photogravures after Steichen photos, New York, 1906 ($8,000 to $12,000).

Another wonderful piece of Photographic Literature in the sale is Doris Ulmann's Roll Jordan Roll, a collaboration between the photographer and writer Julia Peterkin that features 90 hand-pulled photogravures, signed by Ulmann and Peterkin, deluxe edition, New York, 1933 ($20,000 to 30,000). A different deluxe copy sold at Swann's December 13, 2005 Photographic Literature auction for a record $39,000 (including buyer's premium).

More modernist are Margaret Bourke-White's Otis Steel Mill, Cleveland, silver print, 1928 ($7,000 to $10,000); a stunning unique pigment print by Frantisek Drtikol, Nude ("Yo Hay Tang"), 1929 ($35,000 to $45,000); Brassaï's One Suit for Two, at Magic City, silver print, 1931, printed 1970s ($7,000 to $10,000); and many images by André Kertész, among them Montmartre (Daisy Bar), silver print, 1930, printed 1940s ($25,000 to 35,000).

A rich selection of material from the mid-20th century includes Yousuf Karsh's portrait of Sir Winston Churchill, silver print, 1941, printed 1950s ($6,000 to $9,000); Ansel Adams's Great White Throne, Zion National Park, 1942; printed 1960s ($10,000 to $15,000); Bill Brandt's Foot and legs abstraction in sand, silver print, 1950s ($5,000 to $7,500); and Aaron Siskind's Chicago 45, 1952 and Uruapan, Mexico, 1955 ($5,000 to $7,500 and $7,000 to $10,000 respectively).

There are also two compelling works by Robert Frank, a photograph of the diner counter at Ranch Market, Hollywood, silver print, 1955, printed 1960s ($12,000 to $18,000), and Bus, New York City (Enlarged Contact Sheet), a filmstrip-like view of the city in 1958, printed 1970s ($14,000 to $18,000); a lyrical chromogenic print by Harold Edgerton, inventor of the electronic flash and a man obsessed with stop-motion photography, entitled Milk drop coronet, 1957 ($4,000 to $6,000); and Diane Arbus's portrait of a Burlesque comedienne in her dressing room, Atlantic City N.J., silver print, 1963, printed 1970s.

There are several cityscapes by Berenice Abbott, as well as a copy of her Berenice Abbott's New York portfolio, which contains 12 silver prints of the city, 1979 ($25,000 to $35,000). Other important portfolios include William Klein New York 54/55, with 12 of Klein's gritty images of New York, silver prints, one of 50 numbered copies, 1954-55, printed 1978 ($12,000 to $18,000); Eliot Porter's Trees, with 10 original oversize dye-transfer prints, one of 50 numbered copies ($12,000 to $18,000); a suite of 15 photographs from the portfolio Inge Morath, mostly portraits, silver prints, 1975 ($7,000 to $10,000); Paul Strand's On my Doorstep: A Portfolio of Eleven Photographs, 1914-1973, signed by Hazel Strand on the colophon, New York, 1981 ($10,000 to $15,000); and a portfolio of Beaumont Newhall Photographs, with 12 silver prints, 1981 ($4,000 to $6,000).

Also from the late 20th century are Richard Avedon's portrait of Jean Genet, silver print, 1975 ($4,000 to $6,000); Robert Mapplethorpe's X-rated Phillip, and fully clothed Tom Scott, exquisitely crafted silver prints, 1980 ($6,000 to $9,000 each); a Cindy Sherman diptych, Doctor/Nurse, silver prints, 1980-87 ($4,500 to $5,500); two of Herb Ritts's images of male erotica, Dan and Fred (from the Body Shop Series), silver prints, 1984 ($5,000 to $7,000), and Clay Nude on Mantle, 1989 ($4,000 to $6,000); and Richard Misrach's tranquil From the Golden Gate Bridge Series ("3-27-99, 3:45PM"), chromogenic print, 1999, printed 2000 ($7,000 to $10,000).

The auction will begin at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 16.

The photographs will be on exhibition Saturday, February 11, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Monday, February 13 to Wednesday, February 15, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Thursday, February 16, from 10 a.m. to noon. There will be a Gallery Walk with the Specialist on Saturday, February 11 at 3 p.m.

An illustrated catalogue, with information on bidding by mail or fax, is available for $35 from Swann Galleries, Inc., 104 East 25th Street, New York, NY 10010, or online at www.swanngalleries.com.

For further information, and to make advance arrangements to bid by telephone during the auction, please contact Daile Kaplan at (212) 254-4710, extension 21, or via e-mail at dkaplan@swanngalleries.com.

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