Exceptional Space photographies

November 26, 2017

One of the most important European private collections of photographs of the space has been sold by lot at the auction house FauveParis. An enthusiast of the history of the space conquest, who wishes to remain anonymous, disperses his very beautiful collection of images of the sky and space. Photograph dated 1919 of the solar eclipse by which Arthur Eddington "proved" Einstein's theory of general relativity, self-portrait of Buzz Aldrin during the Gemini 12 mission, mosaic of the Olympus Mons volcano seen by the Mariner 9 probe...

This collection was collected by a French amateur who has been working alongside astronauts and engineers from the Nasa for many years. The majority of the images presented in this sale were acquired directly from them, the other part was gleaned from American private collectors,"explains Dimitri Joannidès, head of sales at FauveParis - which is the European leader in 100% aerospace auctions.

Hand mosaic of 55 later gelatin silver prints of Saturn on RC paper. THIS PAPER MANUFACTURED BY KODAK watermark on the back of each photo 50 x 53 cm.

Increasingly younger collectors

The sale of photographs or space-related objects is as old as the conquest of space. However, this niche market has been structured over the last 15 years or so and is now of interest to all generations. It is no longer enough to have witnessed man's first steps on the moon, on TV or on the radio. From now on, thirty-year-olds are also building up cutting-edge collections, with purchases ranging from €100 to €700/800,"says Dimitri Joannidès.

Over €1000, they are more like forty or fifty well-established people - captains of industry, investment bankers, decorators, and not always men! which make up the bulk of buyers. But what all fans are waiting for is 2019, which will mark the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 adventure! »

Hand mosaic of 4 later gelatin silver prints on RC paper. THIS PAPER MANUFACTURED BY KODAK watermark on the back of each photo. Negative numbers on a separate strip.
28 x 38 cm

Hand mosaic of 7 later gelatin silver prints on RC paper. THIS PAPER MANUFACTURED BY KODAK watermark on the back of each photo. Negative numbers on a separate strip cm