Witness the evolution of mugshot photography from extensive collections within the vernacular genre.

The History of Mugshots

Photographer Unknown: Pier 24 Photography from the Pilara Family Foundation Sold to Benefit Charitable Organizations

Fascinating to behold, these photographs have layers of added artistry ranging from embroidered details to hand-applied pigments. The results are captivating works on paper that evade categorization and transcend traditional photographic portraiture.

Explore a selection of hand-altered photos from around the world.

Hand-painted Photographs

America’s favorite pastime is represented in unexpected ways through photographs taken for press and reproduction.

Baseball in Photography

Witness the tenacity of San Francisco through photographs of the 1906 earthquake and fire.

The Golden City

Family vacations, college experiences, and life’s milestones are all documented within the covers of photo albums. Discover some of the hidden treasures within the albums in the Pilara Family Foundation collection.

Albums to Treasure

Over 30 photographs comprise one lot related to New York City crime in the 1930s, including mugshots and line-up photographs of Charles "Lucky" Luciano, Dutch Schultz, Louis "Lepke" Buchalter, Abe "Kid Twist" Reles, George Rudick, Harry Maione, and Frank "The Dasher" Abbondando.

The Bloody History of Murder, Inc.

New York

Sotheby’s Photographs presents Photographer Unknown, the next auction of 
 
 <a class="Link" href="https://www.sothebys.com/en/series/pier-24-photography-from-the-pilara-family-foundation-sold-to-benefit-charitable-organizations">Pier 24 Photography</a>
 
 from the Pilara Family Foundation Sold to Benefit Charitable Organizations. These photographs, largely taken by individuals whose names are now lost to time, belong to an important element of the History of Photography: the vernacular. The Pilara Family Foundation’s collection of vernacular photography—including snapshots by hobbyists, hand-colored commercial portraiture, mugshots, occupational photo badges, press imagery, boxing headshots, and souvenir albums—are some of the best examples associated with the genre. Every photograph has a story and these images are evidence of the many ways the medium has been utilized since its invention, from crime fighting, to documentation, to advertising. Sale Number: N11325

SVP, Global Head of Department, Photographs

Emily Bierman

Vice President | Senior Specialist

Aimee Pflieger

Meet our Specialists

For assistance with bidding and registration, please contact: +1 212 606 7000 
 
 <a class="Link" href="mailto:enquiries@sothebys.com" target="_blank">ENQUIRIES@SOTHEBYS.COM</a>

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Sotheby’s Photographs presents Photographer Unknown, the next auction of 
 
 <a class="Link" href="https://www.sothebys.com/en/series/pier-24-photography-from-the-pilara-family-foundation-sold-to-benefit-charitable-organizations">Pier 24 Photography</a>
 
 from the Pilara Family Foundation Sold to Benefit Charitable Organizations. These photographs, largely taken by individuals whose names are now lost to time, belong to an important element of the History of Photography: the vernacular. The Pilara Family Foundation’s collection of vernacular photography—including snapshots by hobbyists, hand-colored commercial portraiture, mugshots, occupational photo badges, press imagery, boxing headshots, and souvenir albums—are some of the best examples associated with the genre. Every photograph has a story and these images are evidence of the many ways the medium has been utilized since its invention, from crime fighting, to documentation, to advertising.