A “lost” album of 19th century photographs of Egypt sold for almost half a million pounds at Sotheby’s in London today. The 44 photographs, taken between 1852 and 1856 by American photographer and archaeologist John Beasley Greene, sold for £482,500. They had been estimated at £100,000-£150,000. They were re-discovered on a library shelf in France have been assembled by the first owner, who may have been personally acquainted with Beasley Greene in 1853. It has remained in the same family collection ever since. The images are notable for their sheer modernity and these are considered some of the most radical early photographs.
Also in London today a group of plates, vases, jugs, bowls and tiles by Picasso brought a total of £1,502,188. With prices spanning £1,063 upwards to £68,500, the auction was 98.3% sold by lot.
JOHN BEASLEY GREENE
1832 – 1856
ALBUM OF EGYPT AND ALGERIA, 1852 – 1856
Album, contemporary green cloth with monogram gilt ‘A.L.’ on the cover, spine modern cloth, with 44 photographic prints individually pasted to blue albumen card.
43 prints by John Beasley Greene after paper negatives, 39 salt prints and 5 albumenised salt prints. 15 prints with the signature and reference number in the negative.
Estimate £100,000 — 150,000
Sold for £482,500
JOHN BEASLEY GREENE
1832 – 1856
ALBUM OF EGYPT AND ALGERIA, 1852 – 1856
Album, contemporary green cloth with monogram gilt ‘A.L.’ on the cover, spine modern cloth, with 44 photographic prints individually pasted to blue albumen card.
43 prints by John Beasley Greene after paper negatives, 39 salt prints and 5 albumenised salt prints. 15 prints with the signature and reference number in the negative.
Estimate £100,000 — 150,000
Sold for £482,500
PABLO PICASSO
1881 – 1973
GROS OISEAU CORRIDA (A. R. 191)
Terre de faïence vase, 1953, numbered 7, from the edition of 25
Estimate £60,000 — 80,000
Sold for £68,500.