Ansel Adams

(San Francisco: Sierra Club, 1963, an edition of 260), a portfolio of 15 photographs, each mounted, signed in ink on the mount, the printed portfolio label, numbered '95' in red ink, on the reverse, in individual letterpress wrappers, 1943-63, printed in 1963; together with duplicate letterpress title/colophon/plate list and introductions by Adams and by Dorothy Varian, each with the edition number '95' in red ink. Folio, gilt-lettered gray linen portfolio with flaps and ties

Gift of the photographer to his friend David Lichtenstein, Jr.

Bequeathed to the present owner

The photographs are in generally excellent condition. Scattered tiny deposits of original retouching are occasionally visible in raking light. Some of the mounts are very slightly age-darkened, and occasional tiny deposits of indeterminate nature are visible on the front and reverse. Around the perimeter of the printed portfolio labels are small fibers caught in the adhesive. The reverse of each mount is annotated 'David B. Lichtenstein, Jr.' in ink and '2007.219.7' in pencil. The plates, with dimensions and further condition notes, are as follows: I. 'Teklanika River, Mount McKinley National Park, Alaska' (9 1/8 by 11 5/8 in.): There are a few tiny impressions in the upper right quadrant that do not appear to break the emulsion. II. 'Sequoia Roots, Mariposa Grove, Yosemite National Park, California' (9 5/8 by 7 1/2 in.) III. 'Leaf, Glacier Bay National Monument, Alaska' (6 7/8 by 9 in.) IV. 'Dunes, Oceano, California' (7 1/2 by 7 3/4 in.): Excess dry-mounting tissue is slightly visible around the left and lower edges of the print. V. 'Cathedral Peak and Lake, Yosemite National Park, California' (7 1/8 by 9 3/8 in.) VI. 'Vernal Falls, Yosemite Valley, California' (10 3/4 by 8 in.) VII. 'Clearing Storm, Sonoma County Hills, California' (9 by 11 in.): In raking light, a crescent-shaped crease, possibly a result of the mounting process, is visible at the center left of the print. VIII. 'Oak Tree, Sunset City, Sierra Foothills, California' (7 1/4 by 8 1/2 in.) IX. 'Castle Rock, Summit Road Above Saratoga, California' (9 1/2 by 7 1/4 in.): There are a few small surface scratches at the center of the print, on either side of the tree trunk, which appear to break the emulsion. Excess dry-mounting tissue is very slightly visible around the left edge of the print. X. 'Northern California Coast, Redwoods' (9 3/8 by 11 3/8 in.) XI. 'Orchard, Early Spring, Near Stanford University, California' (10 by 12 3/4 in.): There is a 1/2-inch linear scratch at the upper edge of the print, and a pinpoint-sized impression at the center, neither of which appear to break the emulsion. There are some stray graphite marks, a few linear scratches, and small impressions on the mount. The left edge of the mount is bumped in an isolated area. XII. 'Siesta Lake, Yosemite National Park, California' (7 1/2 by 9 1/2 in.) XIII. 'Storm Surf, Timber Cove, California' (7 1/4 by 9 1/4 in.) XIV. 'Tuolumne Meadows, Yosemite National Park, California' (9 1/4 by 7 1/4 in.): There is a tiny, barely discernible, loss of emulsion at the lower right corner. XV. 'Sierra Nevada, Winter Evening from the Owens Valley, California' (11 5/8 by 9 in.): There are two tiny impressions at the center of the print which do not appear to break the emulsion. There is a small matte area in the upper right quadrant. There are some fingerprints on the reverse of the mount. One of the title/plate list/colophon sheets is slightly age-darkened. The wrappers and the linen portfolio case are in generally excellent condition.
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.