First - many thanks for your comments and best wishes. I published all your comments, good and bad, and other than "Anonymous" who wrote to accuse me of being defensive and compromised by financial self-interest, the points were well taken. I write about what I think is good regardless of the source and only publish contrary opinions that I think are worth airing.
Today I'm highlighting a forthcoming auction of photographs from the estate of Dan Berley. (The auction is being held at Rago Arts and Auction Center in Lambertville, New Jersey.) Berley was a real estate developer whose main avocation was collecting - which he did from the early 60s on. In today's troubled economic time, there's not much spare cash around, but it's worth pointing out that a sale from a minor auction house (sorry, Rago), held outside of the week of the big photo auctions, and with low estimates, presents a buyer's dream. From an investment point of view this looks like a great opportunity. (I was not paid to say this.)
Anyway, here are some of my picks from the 300 lots for sale. (Above - Lartigue's "Zissou in his Tire Boat" Estimate $1000 – $2000.)
A rare Cartier-Bresson taken in Mexico c. 1963. Estimate $6,000 - $9,000
One from a lot of 3 views of New York (all good) taken by Charles Rotkin in the 1940s. $1,000 - $1,500.
Marilyn Monroe c. 1945 by Andre de Dienes. $2,000 - $4,000.
A wonderful (but tiny) Karl Struss of the Flatiron Building. $3,000 - $5,000.
Ruth Orkin's portrait of Woody Allen at the Met. 1963. $3,000 - $4,000.
Ray Metzker. Chicago, 1983. $4,000 - $6,000. (This seems high, but it's a strong picture.)
A 1969 Garry Winogrand estimated at $2,000 - $3,000.
Stephen Shore. 1974. $4,000 - $6,000.
