Head of Department, Justine Gruser comments, "An extraordinary collection of photographs and photobooks covering an impressive range of subjects and photographers will be on offer in the sale this May, coinciding with the Photo London Fair and many satellite events related to the medium. From beautiful photographs of Japan and New York cityscapes to portraits of cultural icons including Marilyn Monroe and Madonna, the sale explores many sides of photography with several early American photographs and documentary photography."
Highlights include fifty-two hand-coloured albumen prints of Japan from the 1860s-90s by a range of photographers including Felice Beato (1832- 1909), who was renowned for his views and panoramas of the architecture and landscapes of East Asia (Lot 13, Est £1,200-1,500). The lot includes portraits of tradesmen, geishas and street sellers and rare prints of hara-kiri and crucifixion, as well as street scenes and landscapes of Nagasaki, Kamamura and Tokyo.