Philippe Halsman

mounted, extensive ink cropping notations, Famous Photographers School lesson stamp, with numbers in pencil and crayon, and notations in pencil and ink on the mount, the FPS lesson and other stamps, with numbers in crayon, on the reverse, and with blue paper overleaf with FPS lesson stamp and numbers in crayon, 1955, printed before 1964 (LIFE, 18 July 1955, cover, variant color; Halsman: A Retrospective, rear cover and p. 18)

This print, trimmed to the image, is on paper with a slight surface sheen and is in generally in very good condition. There is intermittent, tiny chipping at the edge of the print. When examined in raking light, the following are visible: silvering at the periphery; small deposits of original retouching; soft, horizontal impressions that do not break the emulsion, primarily in the upper portion of the print; and a shiny, transparent linear desposit of indeterminate nature in the area of the sitter's hair. The slick, white Famous Photographers School mount has extensive red and black ink cropping notations on the front of the mount. It is soiled and age-darkened on the front and the back. Also, the following annotations have been written by the photographer: 'remove mark from shirt?' [circled and x'd] in red ink]; '2 prints to come, 1 gold dodging, 1 undodged' in pencil and marked through with blue ink; 'birds emphasized, blouse darker, attention on face [circled and X'd through]' in pencil. There are 10 remnants or deposits of cellulose tape on the front of the mount. The FPS lession stamp has the numbers '5' and '35A.' On the reverse of the mount are the 'Famous Photographers Schools, Wilton Road, Westport, Conn.,' 'Please Return to Art Archives Graphics Building,' 'Original Art,' and the FPS lesson stamp with numbers '5' and '35' in red crayon. A blue paper overleaf has been affixed to the back with adhesive, and the front of the overleaf has the FPS lesson stamp and numbers, and well as '11B' in crayon. This print was used used in Famous Photographers Course, Volume I, Lesson 5, 'Contact Printing and Enlarging,' pp. 33 and 38. This photograph was made with a Rolleiflex with a 75mm f/3.5 lens; Tri-X film; 1/100 second at a little more than f/5.6; overcast daylight.
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.