The auction of collector edition photographic books organized by the auction house Ader last Thursday March 31st had been followed with great interest by the collectors, whether present in the room or bidding via telephone. Moreover, the room at 3 rue Favart turned out to be too small twenty minutes before the beginning of the bids, as there were no more available seats. It must be pointed out that the estimates by the expert Antoine Romand were accurate, as more than 80% of the lots found their buyers. The surprise was that many lots, not necessarily those one might have expected, had largely surpassed the previewed estimations.

Thus, the lot nº5 “Esthétique de la photographie” Photo-club of Paris 1900, original edition limited to 75 copies, estimated at 400/500€ was sold at 1700€ excluding charges. The lot 52 “Voluptés de Paris” by Brassaï, Paris-Publications 1934, original edition, 38 photographs auctioned for 2800€ (excluding charges) even with two missing rings in the binding. The lot 67 “Fabrik. Ein Bildepos der Technik” by Jakok Tuggener, original edition dated 1943, valued at 1200/1500€ was auctioned for 3000€ (excluding charges). The two books by Josef Sudek “Prazsky Hrad” (1947) and “Nas Hrad” (1948) valued at 200/300€ found a buyer for 1100€ (excluding charges).

The lot N°109, a special edition copy, numbered and signed “La Montagne” by Willy Ronis, valued at 1000/1200€ was auctioned for 2200€ (excluding charges).

The lot N° 164 “Places” by Aaron Siskind, edition dated 1976 limited to 100 copies, signed and accompanied by a vintage copy, valued at 1000/1500€ was auctioned for 2200€ (excluding charges). The lot N°254 “The Stage” by Doningan Cumming, an original edition, paperback, signed and dedicated to Patrick Roegiers, valued at 700/800€ was auctioned for 3200€ (excluding charges).

Among the deceptions we find Joel-Peter Witkin’s original editions and signed, Antoine d’Agata, the “Telex persan” by Gilles Peress, the collection “d’Ecrits sur l’Image”, “l’Herbarium” by Fontcuberta or the rare “Moments” by Irving Penn at 150€… that did not find a buyer.

Find all the details on the lots and the results on http://www.ader-paris.fr