Auction: The Stephen L. White Photograph Collection, March 23, 2010 @Swann

Swann's first photography sale of 2010 is a single owner collection of American photography owned by Stephen L. White. The collection mixes historical and fine art images from the 19th and 20th centuries, and was featured at an exhibit at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam in 2001 (here). This catalogue divides the lots according to three categories that characterize the American Dream: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. There are 102 lots on offer in this sale, with a total High estimate of $786050. (Catalog cover at right, via Swann.)

Here's the statistical breakdown:

Total Low Lots (high estimate up to and including $10000): 81
Total Low Estimate (sum of high estimates of Low lots): $277050

Total Mid Lots (high estimate between $10000 and $50000): 20
Total Mid Estimate: $434000

Total High Lots (high estimate above $50000): 1
Total High Estimate: $75000

The top lot by High estimate is lot 73 Alfred Stieglitz, Going Home by Ferry, New York City, 1902/1920s, at $50000-75000. (Cover lot, at right.)

This collection is quite widely dispersed in terms of the artists represented. As a result, below is the rather short list of photographers (not including unidentified or anonymous photographers) with more than 1 lot in the sale (with the number of lots in parentheses):

Lewis Hine (5)
Eadward Muybridge (4)
Edward Steichen (2)
Alfred Stieglitz (2)
Benjamin Strauss (2)
Dr. Dain Tasker (2)

For our particular collection, we were most drawn to lot 62, Dr. Dain L. Tasker, Daffodils (in box), 1933, at $15000-25000. (Image at right, via Swann.)

The complete lot by lot catalog can be found here. The 3D version is located here.

The Stephen L. White Photograph Collection
March 23rd

Swann Galleries
104 East 25th Street
New York, NY 10010

Auction: Photographs, October 28, 2008 @Bonhams & Butterfields

The photography sales at Butterfields (now Bonhams & Butterfields with its British parent) have always been a low key, California kind of affair. There is usually a major emphasis on West Coast photographers, and lots of work at generally low/fair prices. I've always thought these sales were a bit overlooked by collectors, with a little less cut throat competition and a few more bargains.

The upcoming sale, although being held in New York, still has the old Butterfields vibe. Who else but Butterfields would put a Weston kitty on the cover? There are a total of 222 lots up for sale, for a total high estimate of $1439000. Here's the breakdown:

Total Low lots (high estimate of $10000 and lower): 202
Total Low estimate (sum of high estimates of Low lots): $965000

Total Mid lots (high estimate between $10000 and $50000): 19
Total Mid estimate: $384000

Total High lots (high estimate above $50000): 1
Total High estimate: $90000

Here are some lots of interest to us:

• Lot 69 Dr. Dain Tasker, X-Ray of Amazon Lily, 1930s
• Lot 70 Dr. Dain Tasker, X-Ray of Hanging Fuschia, 1930s (at right)
• Lot 78 Alphonse Bernoud, Images of Flowers, c1870
• Lot 105 Max Yavno, Garage Doors, 1947/1970s
• Lot 132, Man Ray, Nusch Eluard, 1935/1960s

There are previews in both New York and San Francisco during October. Definitely worth checking out, especially if Butterfields isn't already on your radar.

Photographs
October 28th

Bonhams & Butterfields
580 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10022