A
"rare" Victorian book featuring 40 pictures of 19th Century life on
the Norfolk Broads is expected to fetch about £25,000 at auction.
Showcasing the work of photographer Peter
Henry Emerson, only 200 of the books were published, after which Emerson
smashed the original plates.
Sarah Prior, from Keys auctioneers in Aylsham, said
it was "very rare" to find "a complete copy" of the book.
She added the book "will be one of the most
valuable we have ever auctioned".
Born in Cuba in 1856, Emerson moved to England as a
teenager and championed a naturalistic approach to photography.
John Benjafield, a Norfolk-based expert on 19th
Century photography, said Life and Landscape on the Norfolk Broads was an
important part of photographic history.
"Emerson was and is regarded as the father of
naturalistic photography, and was absolutely vociferous about his
technique," he said.
Featuring platinum prints, they have "an
exceptionally long life; you get deep shadows and bright highlights, and very
luminous mid-tones. The images are breathtaking, they jump out of the page at
you," he added.
The 81-page
book, nearly A3 in size, came from a private collector. It includes
explanations of each of the images written by Emerson and artist Thomas
Frederick Goodall.
Ms Prior, book
manager from Keys Fine Art Auctioneers, said: "As well as the rarity
value, the book offers a unique insight into life on the Norfolk Broads,
illustrating many aspects of Victorian Broadland life, including reed-cutting,
eel fishing, shooting, sailing and even water-lily collecting.
"We are
expecting worldwide interest from institutions, collectors and photographic
historians. This will be one of the most valuable books we have ever
auctioned," she said.
"We are
estimating a price of between £25,000 and £30,000, but because a book such as
this comes up for sale so seldom, bidding may well go beyond that figure."
The book will
be auctioned on Thursday.
Source: BBC
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