Episode 12: Ansel Adams Detective

In this episode I give you my secret five-step process for analyzing Ansel Adams prints, providing lots of details on identifying print dates through paper type, stamps, and signature.

I have learned so much after looking at close to 1000 Ansel Adams prints thus far in my career. Many of which were in the collection of David Arrington, whose collection has been handled by Sotheby’s in two sales- one in 2020 and one in February 2022.

Here is an example of a label that Adams used between 1936 to 1944, as well as a Michael and Jeanne Adams collection stamp.

Here is a close up of the special, vellum-like, pearlescent paper that Adams used for his ‘Parmelian Prints of the High Sierras’ portfolio. You can also see a little deposit of original retouching at the center right of the image.

Adams used a very shiny board to mount his prints in the early part of his career.

This is very early print (1920), Lost Valley, Yosemite, is on golden-toned, heavy-weight paper with a subtle texture. It is then mounted on a piece of heavily textured ivory paper.

This is a very typical presentation for a 1970’s print- trimmed to the image, mounted to heavy white board, signed in pencil under the image on the mount, and stamped on the reverse.

Adams’ signature changed a lot over the years, as you can see from the images below.

Photographer Alan Ross worked as Ansel Adams’ assistant and has put together an absolutely fascinating website with information about Ansel Adams’ working process.