Diane Arbus

a group of 3 photographs, each signed and inscribed with the Arbus Estate authentication number by the photographer's daughter, Doon Arbus, in ink and stamped on the reverse, 1963; accompanied by the original mailing envelope addressed by the photographer, an exhibition catalogue, and 3 signed letters of authenticity from the Arbus Estate (8)

The photographer to Ray Hujus, Jr., welfare officer for Ramapo, New York, circa 1963

By descent to the current owner

New City, The Historical Society of Rockland County, Woodsmen, Mountaineers and Bockies: The People of the Ramapos, April - August 1985

These lifetime prints were made by Arbus in 1963. They are on double-weight paper with a glossy surface and are in good to excellent condition. Some signs of handling and small creases (some of which break the emulsion) are visible, but are mostly confined to the margins. The margin corners are creased, and the margins are slightly curling. The photograph of the 'Man, Woman, and Boy' shows some warm-toned discoloration and silvering. The reverse of the prints are inscribed in ink with the Arbus Estate authentication numbers: '#1857-2-0U-1114'; '#1855-5-0U-1114'; and '#1858-9-0U-1114.' The signed letters of authenticity that accompany this lot are dated 7 May 2013. Mailing envelope - Arbus's return address (written in her hand in ink) is 'Diane Arbus, 131 1/2 Charles St., NYC 10014.' The mailing address is 'Ray Hujus, New Town Hall - Welfare Dept., Route 59, Tallman, N. Y.' The envelope is darkened, soiled, and there are losses and tears at the corners. 'Woodsmen, Mountaineers and Bockies: The People of the Ramapos' - There is water staining to the lower right corners of some of the pages.
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 origins of the Ramapo Mountain People of Northern New Jersey and Southern New York State are the subject of debate.  Local lore and historical studies have traced their roots to the Lenape and other Native American tribes, escaped and freed African slaves, Hessian soldiers, Dutch settlers, and any number of other groups.  They lived, and continue to live, in relative isolation in the remoter areas of Bergen, Passaic, and Rockland Counties.  While the circumstances of Arbus’s photographs are unknown, the Ramapo Mountain People, as an isolated subculture in one of the country’s most populated areas, would have intrigued the photographer.  Arbus sent the three photographs offered here to Ray Hujus, Jr., who, as welfare officer for the town of Ramapo, New York, may have provided access to these subjects.