BERENICE ABBOTT | 'Horse' (Old Nick)

mounted, partially signed in pencil on the mount, the photographer's '56 West 63rd Street, New York City' and '1 West 67th, N. Y. C.' studio stamps and with credit, title, date, and extensive annotations in pencil by Grace Mayer on the reverse, circa 1930

Collection of the photographer

Marlborough Gallery, New York

Acquired by the Gilman Paper Company from the above, 1976

Sotheby's New York, Important Photographs from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Including Works from the Gilman Paper Company Collection, 15 February 2006, Sale 8165, Lot 54

New York, Marlborough Gallery, Berenice Abbott, January 1976

This warm-toned early print is in generally very good to excellent condition. It is trimmed to the image and there are black ink cropping notations at the perimeter of the image. The crop which runs across the lower edge is drawn approximately 1/8-inch from the edge of the image. Silvering is visible in the darkest areas of the photograph. There is intermittent chipping of the emulsion along the left edge. The mount has been trimmed; as a result, the signature on the front of the mount and the annotations on the reverse are incomplete. The mount is somewhat soiled on the reverse, and there are two hinge remnants on the reverse under the current hinges. What remains of the annotations by Grace Mayer on the reverse reads as follows: 'Old Nick' [crossed out]; 'New York by Berenice Abbott... tion of Photographs by Berenic... Museum of the City of New... October 8th - November... ase return to the Museum of th... of New York ... [illegible].' '13' is also written in an unidentified hand in pencil on the reverse. When examined under ultraviolet light, this photograph does not appear to fluoresce.
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.

The long annotation on the reverse of this early print is in the hand of Grace Mayer, pioneering Curator of Prints at the Museum of the City of New York. A print of this image was included in the Museum’s 1934 Berenice Abbott exhibition, and the present photograph was likely made for promotion of that exhibition.