wann regularly conducts auctions devoted to Photographs. Our sales feature works by classical photographers, such as Edward Curtis and Ansel Adams, prints by the photojournalist Lewis Hine, and pictures by contemporary artists Nan Goldin, Larry Clark, and Robert Mapplethorpe.

Our Photographic Literature auctions, which highlight scarce photobooks by 20th-century photographers, attract collectors worldwide. Swann is the only auction house in the world that conducts semi-annual Photographic Literature sales, and has set the standard for this material.

Swann also offers daguerreotypes, Civil War views, studies of western outlaws, Native-Americana, African-Americana, and vernacular photography. Whether you focus is historical imagery, rare vintage photographs, or modern prints, our friendly staff will walk you through the process of buying (or selling) at auction.

 



Ansel Adams, Moonrise, Hernandez, New Mexico, silver print, 1941, printed 1948, sold for $360,000 on December 8, 2009.



Eddie Adams, Saigon (General Nguyen Ngoc Loan executing a Viet Cong prisoner Nguyen Van Lém), oversize silver print, 1968, printed 1980s, sold for $43,600 on October 22, 2009.



Bert Stern, Marilyn (Crucifix II), mural size chromogenic print, 1962, printed 1990(?), brought $24,000 on October 22, 2009.



Andrew J. Russell, Golden Spike Ceremony with Flag and Camera, Promontory Point, Utah, albumen print, 1869, sold for $43,200 on March 23, 2010.



Emmet Gowin, Concerning America and Alfred Stieglitz, and Myself, with 14 (of 14) evocative photographs accompanied by text from the publication "America and Alfred Stieglitz: A Collective Portrait," 1963-64, printed 1965, sold for $33,600 on October 19, 2010.

 

Contact the Specialists

Daile Kaplan, Director
212-254-4710 ext.21
dkaplan@swanngalleries.com

Deborah Rogal
212-254-4710 ext. 55
drogal@swanngalleries.com

Alex Van Clief
212-254-4710 ext. 64
avanclief@swanngalleries.com
General Inquiries
PHOTOPHILIA: an Obsession, a Love, a Desire for Photographs
May 06, 2013
Swann has launched a new initiative devoted to photography, and we want to hear from you. Visit our new tumblr page and tell us about your favorite photo.



FINE PHOTOGRAPHS & PHOTOBOOKS
April 18, 2013
Boasts stunning examples of early photography including daguerreotypes and tintypes, images by 20th century masters and colorful contemporary photographs.



FINE PHOTOGRAPHS
February 26, 2013
Remarkable offerings of early photography through 20th-century works by masters including Edward S. Curtis, Ansel Adams and André Kertész, whose Distortion #128 is the cover illustration, shown left.



FINE PHOTOGRAPHS & PHOTOBOOKS
December 11, 2012
Features an excellent assortment of photobooks by Robert Frank, Alvin Langdon Coburn, Jack Smith and others, and photographs including work by Walker Evans, Sally Mann and Sebastiao Salgado.



FINE PHOTOGRAPHS & PHOTOBOOKS
October 04, 2012
Features photographs by Robert Frank, Berenice Abbott, Sally Mann, Irving Penn and Richard Avedon, and early photobooks, including a full set of Edward S. Curtis's The North American Indian.



EDWARD S. CURTIS'S THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN
October 04, 2012
Click to view all the plates from The North American Indian portfolios, offered with Curtis's full set of books in the October sale of Fine Photographs & Photobooks.



19TH & 20TH CENTURY PHOTOGRAPHS & PHOTOBOOKS
April 04, 2012
The afternoon session features important portfolios by Ansel Adams, photographs by Richard Avedon, Edward S. Curtis, Berenice Abbott and others.



PHOTOGRAPHS AND OTHER PROPERTY FROM THE ESTATE OF FILMMAKER GARY WINICK
April 04, 2012
The first part of this April 4 sale consists of work from filmmaker Gary Winick's estate, a collection of photographs, fine art prints, movie posters and more.



FINE PHOTOGRAPHS & PHOTOBOOKS
February 28, 2012
Among desirable photographs & photobooks is a strong selection of Berenice Abbott material, including a vintage silver print of City Arabesque, 1938, shown, and her complete Retrospective Portfolio.



IMPORTANT PHOTOBOOKS & PHOTOGRAPHS
December 13, 2011
Features wide-ranging & iconic photography and photobooks from Man Ray, Berenice Abbott, William Eggleston and others.



FINE PHOTOGRAPHS
October 18, 2011
This sale featured classical landscapes, urban views, 19th-century images, and contemporary art. The cover lot, a silver print by Edward Weston titled Rose (Roland de Covarrubias), Mexico, brought $4,320.



IMPORTANT PHOTOBOOKS & PHOTOGRAPHS
May 19, 2011
The sale begins with 128 lots of photographic literature, including a 21ST Editions collection, followed by photographs and portfolios. The cover lot is Ormond Gigli's Models in the Window.



FINE PHOTOGRAPHS
March 24, 2011
Included Susan Derges's The Observer and the Observed #6, 1992.



IMPORTANT PHOTOGRAPHS & PHOTOBOOKS
December 09, 2010
Featured David Goldblatt's Prostitute, Fordsburgh, Johannesburg. The sale concluded with approximately 75 works of photographic literature.



FINE PHOTOGRAPHS & SELECT PHOTOBOOKS
October 19, 2010
The sale featured 12 hand-made albums with more than 340 wirephoto images depicting the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Among the Photobooks offered were Stieglitz's rare, complete series, 291.


Learn about The Art of the Photobook, A Tradition at Swann. Click book cover to download a PDF.