Peter Henry Emerson photographic masterpiece in sale
An extraordinary surviving copy of Peter Henry Emerson’s groundbreaking 1886 photographic masterpiece, Life and Landscape on the Norfolk Broads, one of only twenty five copies, was discovered wrapped in brown paper in a closet in Maryland, USA, following a house clearance.
It was originally purchased by the vendor’s 98-year-old mother at a yard sale, years prior, and sat in its wrappings in the wardrobe for years before being rediscovered by one of her children. It is now set to be auctioned in Rosebery’s Fine & Decorative Art sale on July 10 with an estimate of £30,000-£50,000.
This deluxe first edition is a landmark in photographic history and early art books. Emerson, a trailblazing Victorian photographer born in Cuba and later resident in England, captured the rural life and landscapes of East Anglia with a naturalistic approach that profoundly influenced generations of photographers. He is widely considered to be the person that elevated photography to an art form.
The anonymous seller from Maryland, USA, said: “We were cleaning out my 98-year-old mother’s home and discovered the book buried in the back of her closet. She and my father were avid “yard salers”, always looking for little treasures. They also collected first editions of popular books so we can only surmise that this was another one of their “treasured finds.”
Between 1885 and 1895, Emerson documented the Norfolk Broads and Great Yarmouth with a distinctive style that blended documentary realism and artistic composition. His work is paired with the lyrical prose and illustrations of artist Thomas Frederick Goodall in what is considered the world’s first “coffee table” photography book.
The deluxe edition includes 40 delicate platinum prints mounted on India paper with protective tissue guards, bound in original brown roan-backed pictorial vellum gilt featuring a design by Goodall. Emerson’s personal fingerprints can be seen on one print, suggesting the intimate craftsmanship that went into the creation of the volume. The book’s rarity is heightened by Emerson’s destruction of the original plates after publication, making intact deluxe copies nearly impossible to find.
Jack Wallis, Head of Sale and Specialist, Fine & Decorative at Roseberys, commented: “I couldn’t believe my eyes when this came through as a routine email valuation – it is an incredibly rare and valuable thing to find. Life and Landscape on the Norfolk Broads is a seminal work that established photography as a serious artistic medium. Emerson’s influence is still felt today, from Alfred Stieglitz to contemporary photography.”