Episode 30: A Post-sale conversation with Aimee and Emily

Aimee barrels through a nasally head cold for a post-sale discussion with Emily Bierman that covers the stellar results of the sale of Ansel Adams, A Legacy: Photographs from the Meredith Collection. This sale took place on October 16, 2024 and was a resounding success.

The pre-sale estimate range for the auction was $1,775,000 - 280,1000 for 96 lots. The final result (including buyer’s premium) was $4,567,680. It was 100% sold, which is also called a ‘white glove’ sale. We made over 40 records for Ansel Adams in the sale, and 77% sold above estimate.

In this discussion, Emily and I get together to cover white-glove auctions, the Ansel Adams market, estimates, auction development, and our commitment to research.

The top lot of the sale was Surf Sequence, San Mateo County Coast, California. Our pre-sale estimate was $200,000-300,000 and it sold for $576,000, which is a new record for this set of images!

Emily discusses Moon and Half Dome (below) in our discussion. Here, it is an almost-square composition, rather than a more vertical one that we typically see in prints made post-1970. This impressive print sold for $384,000 against a pre-sale estimate of $100,000-200,000.

Moon and Half Dome, Yosemite National Park, California, Executed in 1960, probably printed in the 1960s

Emily also discusses Maroon Bells (below), which was offered as lot 1 in the sale. Of course, the sale price was great surprise, but more than that it signaled a great start and deep bidder participation. The buyer Emily was working with was pleased to add it to his distinguished collection.

‘Maroon Bells, Near Aspen, Colorado,’ Executed in 1951, printed in 1974. sold for $102,000 (pre-sale estimate $60,000-90,000)

The photo below was Aimee’s favorite image in the sale. The composition is so satisfying, and the tonal range that Adams pulled out of the clouds is astounding. The pre-sale estimate was $10,000-15,000 and it sold for $31,200, including buyer’s premium.

'The Golden Gate Bridge from Baker Beach, San Francisco,' executed in 1953, probably printed in the 1950s.

Finally, here is a photograph of the temporary tattoos Aimee made for the Photo department. The symbol was featured in early issues of the newsletter for the Friends of Photography, but we have yet to figure out who drew it or what it means!