john_bullock1 Posted February 15, 2004 Share Posted February 15, 2004 I own one of 53 portolios of prints made by well-know west coast photographers, including John Sexton, Brett Weston, Richard Garrod, Morley Baer. This portfolio was produced by Photo Gallery International in 1985, is entitled "Message from West Coast", and consists of 11 8x10 prints. I am interested in selling it, and wonder which is the best venue; I think eBay would demean the artists. Any ideas? jb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
art_haykin Posted February 15, 2004 Share Posted February 15, 2004 Couldn't find a THING on it via a google.com search. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruce watson Posted February 15, 2004 Share Posted February 15, 2004 Contact AIPAD. They can possibly direct you to fine art photography dealer who can help you sell your portfolio, or at least advise you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john_bullock1 Posted February 15, 2004 Author Share Posted February 15, 2004 Art: Thanks for your interest. I composed a length answer for you, but somehow lost it in the sending. I'll see if this works before having another go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john_bullock1 Posted February 15, 2004 Author Share Posted February 15, 2004 Art: OK, here goes: I'm not sure that the Photo Net is the place to sell this sort of thing; I'm merely hoping for help in locating the right venue or market. The portfolio consists of the following prints: Ansel Adams Thunderstorm, Yosemite Valley, ca. 1940 Negative by Ansel Adams, print by Alan Ross Morley Baer Farm Knoll, Capay Valley, California 1975 Robert K. Byers Spotted Lake, Osoyoos, Brit. Columbia, 1982 William A. Garnett Sand Dunes with Snow No. I, Colorado, 1983 Richard Garrod Leaves and Log, Coos Bay, Oregon, 1976 Henry Gilpin Sun Flowers, North Dakota, 1981 Donald Ross Black Door in White Wall, Sonora Mex., 1983 Fred Scheel White Fence, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, 1980 John Sexton Frost Covered Boulders, Yosemite, 1980 Brett Weston Spanish Village, Spain 1971 Don Worth Aspens, Autumn, New Mexico, 1958 The prints are placed in a beautiful linen archival folder with a list of the artists, as well as a description of the event for which the portfolio was dedicated. As for price: That's what I'm trying to determine, and I hope that perhaps someone within the Photo Net community would be familiar with the portfolio, and able to direct me. I think its intrinsic value lies in the fact that these men all lived pretty much in the same community, were (and are) friends, worked together, and shared the trials and tribulations of being artists. I knew several of them myself, and they gave me invaluable support as I struggled with large format B&W. Therefore, I should probably keep the portfolio, but my heirs wouldn't appreciate its value, nor what to do with it, so I'd like to find someone who will. jb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john_bullock1 Posted February 15, 2004 Author Share Posted February 15, 2004 Hogarth: Thank you very much for your tip; I've been away from it all for so long. I've emailed AIPAD, and await their response. This is what this forum is all about. Thanks again, jb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael_briggs2 Posted February 15, 2004 Share Posted February 15, 2004 <p>I suggest having the portfolio appraised by an expert in the field, and then perhaps selling it yourself, or selling to or via a gallery. The gallery will probably keep a large portion of the retail price. This page has links to associations of art appraisers: <a href="http://art-collecting.com/appraisals.htm">http://art-collecting.com/appraisals.htm</a>.</p> <p>Writing as a moderator, the photo.net LF Forum is not the place to sell since that would fall outside the <a href="http://www.photo.net/bboard/policy?topic_id=1547&topic=Large%20format%20photography">LF Forum Guidelines</a>. Since most or all of the photos are LF, asking how to sell them is on-topic. You could offer them on the photo.net classifieds, but that probably isn't a good venue for this sort of thing. On the other hand, it wouldn't hurt to try, once you have determined a price.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troll Posted February 15, 2004 Share Posted February 15, 2004 An email to Sotheby's or Christie's auction houses will bring you a form to submit for a free estimate of the value (you can send photos, or submit digital photos on line). At auction, they charge you 10% and the buyer 10% of the final auction price. Or give the Weston Gallery in Carmel a call in the middle of the week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jon_shiu Posted February 15, 2004 Share Posted February 15, 2004 You could give Jim Alinder (Gualala, Calif.) a call re: appraisal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merg_ross Posted February 15, 2004 Share Posted February 15, 2004 John, I also have the "Message from the West Coast" portfolio in which my father, Donald Ross, is represented. As you may know, each photographer received a portfolio, five were available in the United States and the balance ended up in Japan, mostly in museums. Two years ago this month I contacted Sotheby's to get an idea of value. At that time they felt the auction market value for the portfolio was below their minimum consignment level of $3,000-$5,000. They referred me to the director of Photographs for Sothebys.com, Nigel Russell. Mr. Russell contacted me but I decided to hold on to the portfolio for the time being. Please let me know what you discover in your search. Regards, Merg Ross Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christopher_nisperos2 Posted February 15, 2004 Share Posted February 15, 2004 John, might not a good photo gallery have the information you need? But another thought occured to me: if you don't actually need the money, why not just donate your photographs to the photography department in a competent, deserving museum near you? They ALWAYS seemed to be strapped for cash (except, of course, the Getty!). For example, the Oakland Museum comes to mind, for the reasons you sited of proximity. Anyway, there may be a hefty write-off allowed from your income taxes for such a donation (I'm no expert, but once you find out the value of your prints, it'd be worth checking with the IRS, a lawyer or accountant). As well, wouldn't it be nice having "gift of John Bullock" appear with the prints over the next 100+ years? A feather in your karma-cap! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john_bullock1 Posted February 16, 2004 Author Share Posted February 16, 2004 Thank you all for your help. I'm in the process of investigating having the portfolio appraised. If I can't get more than $5,000 for the it, I'll probably take Christopher's suggestion and donate it to a museum, or, I love to find some young person who is really dedicated to the artform........ Merg: my email address is: jas@sisqtel.net. I'd love to correspond with you about what it was (is?) like to have a father with the passion for large format. I know that my sons had many adventures with me. jb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lee_carmichael2 Posted February 16, 2004 Share Posted February 16, 2004 you also might contact Ben Breard at the Afterimage Gallery in Dallas Texas. He has been in business for over 25 years and is quite knowledgable. lee\c Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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