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SWANN GALLERIES' FEBRUARY 7 AUCTION OF FINE PHOTOGRAPHS
FEATURES RARE 19th -CENTURY ALBUMS AND
CLASSIC PHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGES FROM THE 20th CENTURY

On Thursday, February 7, Swann Auction Galleries will offer an excellent sale of Fine Photographs. A private American collection of fine art and vernacular photography forms the centerpiece of the auction, which includes a number of 19th -century albums and portfolios containing early photographs of exotic locales, famed expeditions, and the Civil War. Also featured are modern black-and-white images by important 20th -century artists.

Among the earliest highlights are photographs related to war, such as Julius Vannerson's salted paper print of an 1812 War Veterans Reunion in front of Washington's House, Mt. Vernon, 1853 (estimate: $10,000 to $15,000); and Mathew Brady's view of a Connecticut Regiment Drill, arch-topped albumen print, circa 1862 ($18,000 to $22,000).

Also from the 19th century are William Notman's album of 56 remarkable topographic views of Canada, albumen prints, 1860s-70 ($15,000 to $20,000); William Bradford's extraordinary The Arctic Regions, Illustrated with Photographs Taken on an Art Expedition to Greenland, one of 350 copies, with 141 mounted albumen prints by John Dunmore and George Crichterson, elaborately bound, London, 1873 ($100,000 to $150,000); and Dutch photographer Johan Büttikofer's portfolio of Travel Photographs of Liberia, containing 50 amazing studies of the African nation, Haag, 1887 ($30,000 to 45,000).

Moving into the early 20th century, there is a circa 1907 Untitled (portrait of a woman) by Alfred Stieglitz, platinum print ($15,000 to $25,000); Man Ray's Lampshade, toned silver print on a trimmed carte postale, 1920 ($18,000 to $22,000); Dain Tasker's graceful Eucalyptus, An X-Ray, bromide contact print, 1932 ($12,000 to $18,000); and a kitschy item, a sample book entitled Gumpert's Gelatin Desserts, Brooklyn, New York, featuring more than 60 photographs of dishes made with what we today refer to as Jell-O, silver prints, most hand-colored, 1925 ($2,000 to $3,000).

Classic works by modern masters include Robert Doisneau's well known portrait Pains de Picasso (Picasso with bread hands), silver print, 1952, printed 1980s ($7,000 to $10,000); Seydou Keïta's Untitled (reclining woman), silver print, 1956-57, printed 1999 ($7,000 to $10,000); Ansel Adams's Tree, Stump and Mist, 1958, printed later ($10,000 to $15,000); and Irving Penn's Portrait of Marcel Duchamp, platinum-palladium print on Rives, flush mounted on a sheet of aluminum, 1960, printed 1979 ($30,000 to $45,000).

Highlights among items from other consigners include an impressive album of 66 of Felix Beato's photographs of Japanese figures, most hand-colored, circa 1871 ($25,000 to $35,000); André Kertész's Chez Mondrian, silver print, 1926, printed 1960s ($7,000 to $10,000); several of Berenice Abbott's view of New York City, including Gunsmith, 6 Centre Market Plate, silver print, 1937 ($12,000 to $18,000); three circa 1930 images of the construction of the Empire State Building by Lewis Hine; and Man Ray's portrait of Meret Oppenheim, silver print, 1935 ($9,000 to $12,000).

Among mid-century photographs are Horst P. Horst's Pauline de Rothschild, silver print, 1940s ($9,000 to $12,000); Aaron Siskind's Chicago, 1952, oversize silver print ($12,000 to $18,000); and Robert Frank's South Carolina, silver print, 1955 ($30,000 to $45,000).

Contemporary works of note include Chuck Close's Portrait of the Artist Phyllis Galembo, unique oversize Polaroid print, 1980 ($8,000 to $12,000); Sally Mann's Virginia at Six, silver print, 1991 ($10,000 to $15,000); Hiroshi Sugimoto's Sea of Buddha, Kyoto, silver print, 1995 ($4,000 to $6,000).

The auction will begin at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 7.

The photographs will be on public exhibition at Swann Galleries Saturday, February 2, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Monday, February 4, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Tuesday, February 5, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Wednesday, February 6, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Thursday, February 7, 10 a.m. to noon.

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 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.