Karsh's Apollo 11, Cabinet Cards, and The People of India: The Week in Rare Books
From The People of India albumen prints
This weekly auction result is provided by Spencer W Stuart, an independent collections advisor specializing in rare books and manuscripts as well as fine photography and prints. He is also the author of Contemporary Issues in Rare Books & Manuscript Collecting and host of the monthly webinar Collecting Insights.
These are the three lots that stuck out this week because of either uniqueness or exceeding expectations:
485 cabinet card photographs
From various UK photographers/studios, mostly people/portraits, some topographical views, including several from America, Russia, and Australia and elsewhere in the world, c. 1870-1920. Sold at Hansons/the saleroom for £1,550.
Apollo 11 Crew photographed by Karsh
An original photographic print depicting all three Apollo 11 space mission crew members, taken on September 11, 1969, by Armenian-Canadian photographer Yousuf Karsh, and retained by Karsh in his personal collection. The photograph is signed by Karsh and co-signed by all three crew members Neil Armstrong, Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin, and Michael Collins. Also an inscribed dedication message "To Yousuf & Estrellita Karsh / With the Best Wishes of Apollo 11". Sold by University Archives for $25,000 following an estimate of $3,000-$4,000
The People of India albumen prints
Dr. John Forbes Watson & Sir John William Kaye's The People of India: A Series of Photographic Illustrations...of the Races and Tribes of Hindustan, eight volumes, 480 albumen prints by Willoughby Wallace Hooper, James Waterhouse, H.C.McDonald, Shepherd & Robertson, Benjamin Simpson and others. A photographic survey of the peoples of India depicting different tribes, castes, religions, rulers, craftsmen, tradespeople, beggars, etc. of all areas of India at the time. Sold for £42,000 at Forum Auctions following an estimate of £4,000-£6,000
