One of the hobby’s high-end collectors has chosen Legendary Auctions to exclusively conduct the sale of more than 3 million incredible images of Sports and Americana. The extraordinary collection of photographs spans numerous decades, and includes significant figures from various sports, poignant scenes from the turn of the century, entertainment icons, and other notable individuals and events in history, including the Civil Rights movement. The massive photograph collection will be sold in several upcoming Legendary Auctions events, with the first sale scheduled to open for bidding on Monday, September 8. The auction will close on Tuesday, September 29 and Wednesday, September 30.
Doug Allen, president and CEO of Legendary Auctions, expects bidding and overall interest in the photographs to be high. “Photography has really found its place in collecting,” says Allen. “It is a relatively new niche that has just taken off. We have seen the prices realized on high-quality photos such as the ones we will be offering climb steadily during the last few years.”
While some attribute the appeal of collecting photography to nostalgia, Allen suspects that a much more contemporary trend may be at play: “We live in such a visual age, with an insistence on immediacy. The need to ‘see’ instantly is paramount to how we work and enjoy our leisure time. Vintage photographs satisfy a collector’s desire to peer directly into the subject’s past. It’s the immediate pay-off that is so in line with how we live today.”
According to Allen, the origins of the tremendous photo collection include several major media print archives. Consequently, the collection includes numerous wire photos and frames that capture significant historical moments. “Buyers will be blown away by the quality and content of these photos,” says Allen.
The first auction featuring the photographs will include famous images from the archives of the Detroit News and Sport Magazine, as well as scenes captured by noted photographers Charles Conlon, Barney Stein and Ansel Adams.
Allen points out that what is most exciting about the photographs is the diversity of their subjects. “In one group you’ll find icons of baseball, in another pile there are stars from the Golden Age of Hollywood. And then you’ll turn over another photo and it is the frame that captured the moment right after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King on the balcony of the motel in Memphis. Collectively, the photos really are the proverbial ‘snapshot’ of the American experience.”
With such a diversity of subject matter evident in the photos’ content, Allen expects there to be widespread interest in the photography auctions. “Realistically, no matter what someone collects, there is bound to be a pertinent photo in this September sale,” he notes. “The sheer number of great photos available almost guarantees it.”
Please note: If you already have a Mastro Auctions bidder account, you are automatically registered for all Legendary Auctions. Your Mastro Auctions Username and Password will allow you to log in and participate in this auction at legendaryauctions.com or by calling (708) 889-9380.
