.jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
In 1940 at the suggestion of Lee Strasberg, Strand embarked on the project of making a selection of his Mexican images for a portfolio. Strand described, "The problem was how to make the perfect portfolio that would stand up to my original platinum prints. The only possibility at that time was to make gravures by hand." Strand with the help of Strasberg and Bill Golden managed to get 110 subscriptions for $15 each to fund the project. Because of his intense concern for the quality of the prints, Strand was directly involved in the production of the gravure plates and the proofs for each gravure pulled. He also personally oversaw the varnishing of each print. The final edition of 500 portfolios, published by Strand's wife, Virigina Stevens, sold out very quickly. (Aperture, Sixity Years of Photography, pp. 160-161.)
The history of this portfolio is an interesting illustration of the photography market's evolution since the early 1970s. It was purchased from a personal acquaintance of Strand in 1940 for $35. In 1973 Lee Witkin appraised it with a fair market value of $600. Over six years later in 1979 it was re-evaluated by Harry Lunn for $2,000 and on that same day another well-known dealer offered $2,500 for the work.
The history of this portfolio is an interesting illustration of the photography market's evolution since the early 1970s. It was purchased from a personal acquaintance of Strand in 1940 for $35. In 1973 Lee Witkin appraised it with a fair market value of $600. Over six years later in 1979 it was re-evaluated by Harry Lunn for $2,000 and on that same day another well-known dealer offered $2,500 for the work.