Robert Frank

signed in ink, the archive and copyright stamps, with credit, date, and annotations in pencil or ink, and numerical notations in pencil on the reverse, framed, Bloom Collection label on the reverse, 1955, possibly printed in the late 1960s

Sotheby's New York, 3 October 2001, Sale 7702, Lot 263

The Americans, no. 42

Sarah Greenough, Looking In: Robert Frank’s The Americans, pp. 261 and 472, and Contact no. 42

Tod Papageorge, Walker Evans and Robert Frank: An Essay on Influence, p. 47

Jonathan Green, American Photography: A Critical History, 1945 to the Present, p. 88

Sarah Greenough and Philip Brookman, Robert Frank: Moving Out, p. 198

Peter Weiermair, ed., Americans, 1940-2006—America: The Social Landscape from 1940 until 2006, Masterpieces of American Photography, p. 40

Robert Frank: Story Lines, frontispiece 1

Peter Galassi, Robert Frank: In America, p. 143

This print, on double-weight paper with a surface sheen, is in generally good to very good condition. There is some faint staining in the upper right portion of the print — this invades the image slightly, but is primarily noticeable in the margin. In raking light, a few tiny deposits of indeterminate nature are visible overall. Frank signed, titled, and dated this photograph in the margin, but these inscriptions have completely faded. The impressions from his handwriting are visible only under close examination under high raking light. There is a sharp, one-inch linear crease in the lower margin. The margin corners are bumped, and the top paper-ply at the tip of the lower left corner is folded back. Frank's signature on the reverse is slightly smudged. The copyright stamp is annotated 'Robert Frank 1980' in an unidentified hand in ink, and the Robert Frank Archive stamp is annotated 'THE AMERICANS 42,' 'SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO,' and '822' in an unidentified hand in pencil. The Archive stamp is crossed out in ink. Other notations in pencil are as follows: 'RF.114.Y,' 'RFr.022.Y,' '98: 91,' and '45' (circled). When examined under ultraviolet light, this print appears to fluoresce somewhat. It is believed that only 4 prints of this image, including the present print, have previously been offered at auction.
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.

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