Edward Weston

mounted, signed and dated on the mount, numbered, dated, and inscribed 'To Bill, the prisoner of Zelda, and Zelda, on their honeymoon, Aug. 16, 1942, from Edward and Charis, with real affection' on the reverse, 1938, printed no later than 1942

Gift of the photographer to William and Zelda Holgers, 1942

Sotheby's New York, 17 April 2002, Sale 7777, Lot 122

Acquired by the present owner from the above

Conger 1247; Edward Weston: A Legacy, pl. 61

This photograph is on paper with a semi-glossy finish. It is mounted to thin off-white board with a smooth surface on front and back. The photograph is essentially in excellent condition. When examined very closely in raking light, two faint creases can be seen in the lower left portion of the print which must have been present in the print prior to mounting, or which occurred during the mounting process. There is a very thin hairline scratch in the upper right corner that does not break the emulsion – this, too, is only visible in raking light. Very faint age-appropriate silvering is visible on the edges of the print. None of these condition issues is obtrusive, and none detracts in a serious way from the overall fine appearance of this lovely photograph.
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 full catalogue information for this lot is as follows:

mounted, signed and dated by the photographer in pencil on the mount, numbered 'YS-MI-2G,' dated ''38,' and inscribed 'To Bill, the prisoner of Zelda, and Zelda, on their honeymoon, Aug. 16, 1942, from Edward and Charis, with real affection' by the photographer in pencil on the reverse, matted, printed no later than 1942

 

This photograph was a gift from Weston to his friends, William and Zelda Holgers.  William Holgers was an amateur photographer in the San Francisco Bay area, and was involved in the thriving Camera Club scene of the 1940s and the pre-f.64 salon exhibitions at the de Young Museum.  He participated in the 1940s U.S. Camera Yosemite workshops conducted by Ansel Adams and Edward Weston, and he remained a friend of Adams, Weston, and other photographers such as Imogen Cunningham throughout his life. It was Holgers who took the photograph of Weston and his wife, Charis, that was used as the cover illustration for Charis's memoir, Through Another Lens: My Years with Edward Weston.  For more information on Holgers and his relationship to Weston, please see Sotheby's Photographs catalogue, 17 April 2002, Sale 7777, Lot 121.