NEW YORK, NY.- On Thursday, May 20,
Swann Galleries will conduct a two-part auction of Photographic Literature & Important Photographs that features many scarce and significant worksboth individual photographic images and books.
The auction opens with nearly 200 lots of Photographic Literature, including many sought-after monographs such as a first edition of Berenice Abbotts Changing New York, 1939, signed and inscribed to photograph collector and dealer Howard Daitz (estimate: $4,000 to $6,000); signed and inscribed first editions of Manuel Alvarez Bravos Fotografias, Mexico, 1945 ($9,000 to $12,000), and Alexey Brodovitchs Ballet, New York, 1945 ($8,000 to $12,000); as well as Robert Franks The Lines of my Hand, Tokyo, 1972 ($3,500 to $4,500).
There are three sumptuous examples from 21st Editions books Platinum Series: Sally Mann, illustrated with 10 platinum prints by the artist, plus an additional signed print, one of 100 copies, 2005 ($12,000 to $18,000); Robert and Shana ParkeHarrisons The Book of Life, one of 75 signed and numbered copies issued with an additional signed platinum print, 2005 ($14,000 to $18,000); and Michael Kennas Mont-Saint-Michel, from an edition of 60 signed and numbered copies, with an additional signed print, 2006 ($10,000 to $15,000).
Among many desirable artists photo books are Doris Ulmanns masterpiece Roll, Jordan, Roll, one of 350 copies signed by Ulmann and author Julia Peterkin, issued with an extra signed photogravure plate, New York, 1933 ($25,000 to $35,000); a signed limited edition of Gordon Matta-Clarks Walls Paper, illustrated with his black-and-white photographs of decaying walls in Bronx tenements, 1973 ($4,000 to $6,000); a run of nine publications by Roni Horn documenting the geography and culture of Iceland, To Place (Books I-IX), first editions, plus a supplementary catalogue, 1990-2006 ($5,000 to $7,500 for the set); Matthew Barneys Cremaster, Volumes 1-5, first edition, volume 5 signed by Barney, 1995-2002 ($2,500 to $3,500); and works by Andreas Gursky, Robert Heinecken, Ed Ruscha and others.
Japanese first editions include a select group of six rare, lavishly illustrated titles by Yasuhiro Ishimoto, each signed by Ishimoto, 1955-2003 ($800 to $1,200); Yutaka Takanashis Toshi-e [Towards the City], two volumes, Tokyo, 1974 ($3,000 to $4,000); and Miyako Ishiuchis Yokosuka Story, Tokyo, 1979 ($1,500 to $2,500).
The sales afternoon session features more than 250 important photographsfrom 19th-century cased images by unknown photographers to contemporary works by world-renowned artists. Among the earliest highlights are mammoth albumen prints of southwestern landscapes by William Henry Jackson; plates from Eadweard Muybridges Animal Locomotion; Julia Margaret Camerons portrait of Alfred, Lord Tennyson, albumen print, 1869 ($12,000 to $18,000); an album with 49 views of old Japan by Felix Beato, circa 1872 ($8,000 to $12,000); and an early album by Pierre Pullis containing 50 photographs of the construction of the New York City subway, 1900-1902 ($12,000 to $18,000).
Modernist works of note include Imogen Cunninghams elegant Magnolia Blossom, silver print, 1925, printed 1970s ($12,000 to $18,000); Edward Westons sensual Nude (Charis), silver print, 1935 ($35,000 to $45,000); and several of Alexey Brodovitchs ballet images gifted and inscribed to a friend, among them one from the series Septième Symphonie, and one from Les Sylphides, silver prints, 1935-37, printed 1950s-early 60s ($10,000 to $15,000 and $8,000 to $12,000 respectively).
There are also several groups of Farm Security Administration photographs by photographers such as Walker Evans, Dorothea Lange, Ben Shahn and Marion Post Wolcott.
From the late 20th and early 21st centuries are Helmut Newtons provocative Rue Aubriot, Paris, silver print, 1975 ($14,000 to $18,000); Robert Rauschenbergs Untitled (spigot and pail), silver print, 1979 ($7,000 to $10,000); two of William Egglestons untitled dye-transfer prints from his Graceland series, 1983 (each $7,000 to $10,000); Shirin Neshats I am its Secret, chromogenic print, 1993 ($8,000 to $12,000); Sally Manns Antietam #16, silver print, 2000-2002 ($20,000 to $30,000); and the BAM [Brooklyn Academy of Music] Portfolio, with 11 original photographs by contemporary artists including Avedon, Fuss, Prince, Serrano, Sherman, Leibovitz and others, 2000 ($18,000 to $22,000).
The auction will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 20 with Photographic Literature, and will continue at 2:00 p.m. with Important Photographs.
The photographs and books will be on public exhibition at Swann Galleries Saturday, May 15, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Monday, May 17 through Wednesday, May 19, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.