Edward Weston

on a large buff mount, signed, titled, dated, initialed, and numbered '2/50' by the photographer in pencil on the mount, matted, 1930, no. 2 in a projected edition of 50

Christie's East, 4 May 1987, Sale 6341, Lot 229

Acquired by the present owner from the above 

This early print, on matte-surface paper and on a large, buff-colored mount that has been fully signed, titled, dated, and numbered by the photographer in pencil, is the typical and most desirable presentation for an Edward Weston photograph from 1930. The print is in generally excellent condition. There is a tiny nick in the emulsion at the upper right edge. In raking light, a tiny indentation in the center right that has likely been retouched is visible. The large buff mount exhibits wear at the edges. The corners are bumped and creased. There is soiling and small deposits of indeterminate nature on the front of the mount. On the reverse of the mount, there are a number of tape repairs to tears at the corners and edges that are not visible from the front. The most significant are at the upper left and lower right corners on the reverse. None of these issues affect the print.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Although the present image is not in Conger, a 1931 composition using an egg and bone (negative number 4E) is reproduced as Conger 647.  In her entry for 647, Conger refers to other photographs from this egg-and-bone series, and mentions specifically an egg-and-bone photograph from January 1930 that has a dark background, known to her in only one extant print.

The print offered here carries no negative number in Weston's hand on the reverse, and thus it is difficult to determine which of the four other egg-and-bone negative numbers in Weston's log corresponds to this composition.  In some cases, Weston destroyed all prints from a negative in a series; in other cases, only a few prints are believed to survive.  As of this writing, only one other print of this image has been located: a print sold at Christie's New York on 5 April 2000 (Sale 9330, Lot 262), now in a private collection.